Students eligible for up to $500 in strike relief from Algonquin

Full-time Algonquin College students will be able to apply starting next Wednesday for compensation for “unexpected, incremental” strike expenses they have incurred — or might still incur.

Cheques could start going out as early as Dec. 6, the college says.

The provincial government ordered Ontario’s 24 colleges to reimburse students for their expenses with money saved on instructors’ wages during the strike, the longest in the province’s history. Each college is responsible for administering its own fund.

It’s still unclear how much money Algonquin and La Cité will have to compensate students. But in the 2006 strike, which lasted 20 days, the province’s colleges saved more than $5 million in total.

All full-time Algonquin domestic and international students currently enrolled in the fall term can apply for up to $500 in funding. Those who withdraw for the fall term will not be eligible, the college said in a statement.

Eligible costs include incremental costs to change or cancel travel booked before Nov. 9, such as rescheduling a flight, bus or train trip; and incremental living costs, including food, accommodations and child care expenses. Other expenses based on individual needs will also be considered.

All applications will be required to provide detailed payment receipts or related supporting documentation to complete the application for review and funding consideration. The college is encouraging students who have financial needs above $500 to contact its registrar’s office and financial aid to access other options, including emergency bursaries and fee deferral.

Algonquin says applicants will be notified of the refund decision within 10 business days of a submission, and students whose applications have been approved will get a cheque three to five business days after the decision.

However, the college is aiming for a quick turnaround, and says 10 business days refers to processing in the case of unexpected volume or reconciliation. It is expected that straightforward applications can be processed in fewer than 10 days and some cheques may be issued within a day of approval.

Other questions remain, including answers for students who can’t or don’t want to change their travel plans. Algonquin is urging these students to speak to their professors before changing travel plans to see if the original plans could be accommodated.

Applications will be accessed online through Algonquin’s student portal, known as ACSIS. The application will be open until the end of the winter 2018 semester — April 28, 2018, for most students. Inquiries about the relief fund can be sent to: strikerelief@ algonquincollege.com.

On Monday, the province announced that college students who withdraw within two weeks of the end of the strike could apply for a full refund of tuition and ancillary fees for the fall semester if they are “unable to complete the course for reasons related to the strike.” These students would not be eligible for compensation through the strike relief fund.

All applications will be required to provide detailed payment receipts or related supporting documentation to complete the application …

WAYNE CUDDINGTON Expenses eligible for compensation include the costs of rescheduling travel plans, living costs such as food and accommodation, and child-care expenses.