September 24, 2024
For Immediate Release
Open Letter to the Minister of Advanced Education: Ensuring Timely Financial Aid
Dear Minister Sawhney,
On behalf of the undersigned student organizations, representing over 150,000 students across Alberta, we are writing to express ongoing concerns regarding delays in student financial aid disbursements. For the second consecutive year, these delays have impacted students relying on time-sensitive support for their living and academic expenses.
We acknowledge and appreciate the Ministry’s current efforts to address the backlog and the commitment to return to standard processing times by the end of September. The allocation of additional resources to this issue is encouraging. However, since aid delays can have such serious impacts on students’ lives, it’s vital that we prevent this from happening again. We are asking for a transparent, proactive plan of action from Advanced Education to ensure that the delays we have seen in 2023 and 2024 do not occur in 2025 and beyond.
This year’s delays stemmed in part from higher-than-expected application volumes, which we now understand to be the new normal. We also understand that Advanced Education is expecting rapid enrollment growth over the next several years. While resources are being stretched to manage the current situation, what permanent changes are being made to ensure Alberta Student Aid is better equipped for the future? Specifically, we seek clarity on:
What structural changes or system improvements are planned to prevent backlogs next year? We appreciate that available staff resources have been assigned to this problem temporarily, but without systemic changes, the risk of delays remains. What adjustments are being considered to streamline processes for the long term?
How will Alberta Student Aid improve transparency and communication? Students need predictability and clear updates about their application status so they can plan their finances accordingly, especially in the context of this year’s eligibility changes. Will there be improved touchpoints or real-time updates for students going forward?
What is being done to ensure service standards are met consistently, even with increasing applications? While the current backlog is being addressed, how will the Ministry ensure that processing times remain within acceptable limits next year and beyond, given the expectation of higher application volumes?
Advanced Education is already tracking a decline in the students who feel their loans were worth it and students who would recommend that others apply for loans. We respect the effort that Advanced Education staff are expending to resolve the aid delays in the short term, and we do not want students to perceive Alberta Student Aid as unreliable in coming years. This would have an impact on many students’ access to crucial financial aid.
We are actively working with our respective institutions and students to manage the impacts of delays, but our primary concern is ensuring that this does not become a recurring issue. We appreciate the work being done to resolve the immediate issues, and urge the Ministry to adapt to this new normal for the long term. We look forward to more public communication on how the Ministry will evolve to meet these challenges, and ensure that students in need can continue to rely on Alberta Student Aid.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Lisa Glock, President of the University of Alberta Students Union
Maleeka Thomas, President of the University of Lethbridge Students’ Union
Tala Abu Hayyaneh, President of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University
Gabriel Ambutong, President of the Students’ Association of MacEwan University
Haseeb Arshad, President of the Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Alberta
Ermia Rezaei-Afsah, President of the University of Calgary Students’ Union
Jaxon Reiter, President of the University of Lethbridge Graduate Students’ Association
Ahmad Baker, President of the SAIT Students’ Association
Jan Lehmann, President of the Athabasca University Students’ Union
