These guidelines are intended to ensure consistency and equity in the administration of awards and financial aid. The guidelines also assist students in developing an argument to defer or appeal an award decision. The Student Awards Committee is at liberty to set these guidelines aside when extenuating circumstances arise.
1.Application and Application Deadlines
To be eligible for awards and scholarships, applications must be completed and received in the appropriate office, either the School of Graduate Studies or Scholarships and Student Finance no later than the designated date and time (as indicated). Only in circumstances that are substantially beyond the student’s control will an appeal be considered for an application submitted after the stated deadline date.
Unless otherwise stated, all online Graduate Award applications close at midnight on May 15.
Successful applicants will be notified prior to the add/drop deadline of the fall term.
When no application is required, the award is made automatically on the basis of academic achievement.
When an award recipient is to be nominated and no nomination is received, where appropriate, the University reserves the right to make a selection based on academic achievement
Note: Deadlines falling on Saturdays, Sundays or statutory holidays will be moved to the following business day.
2.Conditions of Receiving Awards
Scholarships administered by the University of Lethbridge are available only to students pursuing University of Lethbridge programs. All awards are contingent upon students proceeding with their University program in the next academic year and are payable only when the student is registered in a program at the University of Lethbridge.
If a student withdraws from full-time studies after having received a payment for an award, unpaid balances of awards outstanding are forfeited.
3.Payment of Awards
a.Replacement - Any award administered by the University of Lethbridge is subject to replacement by an award of equal or greater value.
b.Payment Schedule - Awards may be paid out in monthly installments or in two or three installments (one per term: October 1, February 1, June 1).
c.Students Graduating Early - If the award is paid in multiple payments, the student must be registered in all applicable terms. However, students who graduate early may receive future payment upon written request to the Graduate Funding Facilitator.
d.Deductions - The University may deduct from award payments any funds owed to the University.
e.According to Canadian Tax regulations, all financial awards granted to a student may be considered taxable income. Students will receive a T4A information slip for awards paid to them in the calendar year (January - December).
4.Interruption of Program with Approved Leave of Absence
Requests for deferral for internal awards are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not granted automatically. Consideration for deferral may be given to students experiencing extenuating circumstances that impact their ability to enroll in courses. It is the student’s responsibility to request the deferral of an award, scholarship, or bursary in writing to the Graduate Funding Facilitator within the School of Graduate Studies. Please note, deferrals cannot extend beyond the academic year in which the award is granted. Deferral requests must be submitted by September 15 (one-year awards) or January 15 (multi-year awards) of the year in which the award is issued.
Requests for deferral of admission awards (issued in student admission letters) may be held in abeyance once their leave of absence has been approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Requests for deferral of external awards are reviewed in accordance with the funding agency’s award holder’s agreement. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to the Graduate Funding Facilitator within the School of Graduate Studies prior to the start of the leave.
5.Returning After an Approved Leave of Absence
Students who return after an approved leave of absence shall be considered for University of Lethbridge awards, subject to the rules guiding graduate awards.
To re-instate award payments following an interruption or leave of absence, award holders must notify the Graduate Funding Facilitator of their planned return six weeks prior to their return to their program. Every effort will be made to re-instate the same award or a replacement award of equal value.
6.Awarding Posthumously
Financial awards will not be disbursed posthumously.
7.Note of Appreciation
Where a donor contact is available, award recipients will be expected to write a note of appreciation to the donor.
c.Measuring Academic Performance for Scholarship Purposes
1.Academic Records
Complete academic records from all applicable institutions may be considered for measurement of academic achievement.
Since the University of Lethbridge Calendar is published a considerable time before the beginning of the academic year, the University reserves the right to make whatever changes circumstances may require, including cancellation of particular awards or changes to the minimum grade point average required for awards.
Note: Award is used generically throughout to describe non-repayable financial support.
Academic medals are awarded to the most distinguished students graduating from the University of Lethbridge. Medals are presented at Spring Convocation and all students who have completed degree requirements since the previous Spring Convocation are considered for medals. Students receiving academic medals are nominated by their supervisors.
|
Title and Donor |
Value and Number |
Eligibility |
Criteria |
Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
School of Graduate Studies Medals of Merit (University of Lethbridge) |
Number: Variable |
Must have completed degree requirements in the current academic year |
Awarded to the most distinguished students graduating with a master’s or doctoral degree |
Nominated by Supervisor(s) |
|
The Gold Medal of the Governor General of Canada (The Governor General of Canada) |
Number: One |
Must have completed degree requirements in the current academic year |
Awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic standing in a graduate-level program |
Nominated by Supervisor(s) |
2.Award
An award is non-repayable financial support provided to a student who demonstrates academic achievement and/or meets additional defined criteria. These criteria may include participation in extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership, contribution to the campus community, and/or the local community, and financial need.
3.Award Grade Point Average (GPA)
For award purposes, the award GPA is generally but not always calculated on the previous two academic years with the exception of Audit and Credit/Non-Credit course designation.
4.Bursary
A bursary is non-repayable financial support provided to a student who demonstrates financial need and who is in good standing academically.
5.Deferral
A deferral is a postponement of a payment of an award, scholarship, or bursary until the student is registered full-time in a graduate program at the University of Lethbridge.
6.Fellowship
A fellowship is merit-based, non-repayable financial support provided to a graduate student enrolled in a Thesis-based program
7.Prize
A prize is awarded for outstanding achievement in a course or a set of courses or an academic competition. A prize may be monetary or a gift-in-kind.
8.Scholarship
A scholarship is non-repayable financial support provided to a student primarily on the basis of academic achievement. Additional defined eligibility or criteria may include program, year of program, major, demonstrated leadership, or artistic excellence.
9.Service Awards
A service award is for students in good academic standing who have demonstrated excellence in a range of non-academic fields, such as community service, student leadership, volunteerism, and athletic or artistic performance.