Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement ProgramFrequently Asked Questions1. What is the Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program?A. The Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program was announced by the Government of Ontario in August 2007. It is intended to refund current and former Ontario Crown wards for eligible application fees paid to postsecondary institutions. Refunds are available for applications made to full-time postsecondary programs starting in fall 2008 or later which lead to a first postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate. 2. How long will the program be available?A. The program is funded for three years. 3. Who is eligible for a reimbursement?A. Current Ontario Crown wards or persons who were an Ontario Crown ward (regardless of age, income or adoption status) prior to their eighteenth birthday who have not been granted a postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate are eligible to receive a reimbursement. 4. Can I apply for a refund if I started a postsecondary program that I didn't complete? (I didn't receive a postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate).A. Yes, if you applied for an approved postsecondary program of study starting in fall 2008 or later. 5. Why can't I apply for the refund if I've already received a postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate?A. This program is designed to help Crown wards who have not yet had the opportunity to complete a postsecondary program to do so by removing the financial barrier of the application fee. 6. Will my income affect my eligibility for a refund?A. No. 7. What application fees are covered?A. Current and former Crown wards may receive reimbursements of up to a maximum of $210 in fees for 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic year applications in up to two institutional categories:
There may be some additional fees and application fees charged by other institutions that are not eligible for a refund. 8. Are second entry professional university programs such as law, medicine, faculties of education (teacher's college) and rehabilitation sciences application fees eligible for reimbursement?A. No. This initiative only applies to first entry postsecondary programs. 9. What happens if application fees change?A. The program will be updated if fees change. 10. How many programs can I select?A. You can choose as many programs as you wish. However, the maximum refund you can receive is $210. Please see the response to question seven for additional details. 11. Can I receive a refund for application fees if I applied to both college and university programs?A. Yes. As noted above, current and former Ontario Crown wards can receive a reimbursement if they apply for eligible postsecondary programs in two institutional categories. 12. Should I submit two applications if I applied for postsecondary programs offered at Ontario universities and colleges?A. No. Only one application should be submitted with all supporting documentation. The application form captures these details. 13. What happens if I submit more than one application for a refund?A. The first application received from you will be considered for a refund. If you send another application, it will not be processed. 14. Who is responsible for my application for a refund?A. Resolve Corporation will administer all aspects of the program. You should send your completed and signed reimbursement application, along with supporting documentation to Resolve Corporation at the following address: Resolve Corporation Attention: Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program Phone 1-866-631-1696 15. Who do I call if I have questions about my application?A. Please contact Resolve Corporation at 1-866-631-1696 if you have questions regarding your application. 16. You talk about "approved" programs of study. Which programs are "approved"?The postsecondary programs you apply to must be approved for purposes of Ontario student loans. Specifically, section 7 of O. Reg. 268/01 (Ontario Student Loans Made After July 31, 2001) defines an "approved program of study" as a program of study for which students may be eligible to receive a student loan if the program, (a) is provided at an approved institution; (b) consists of one or more periods of study of no less than 12 weeks and no more than 52 weeks; and (c) leads to the granting of a certificate, degree or diploma upon the successful completion of the program. 17. Why are refunds limited to application fees incurred applying for programs approved for the purposes of student loans?A. This program is not part of OSAP, but the Ministry has adopted the definition of "approved program" from the Ontario Student Loans regulation, above. This definition is clear and applicants can easily find out on the ministry's public website whether their institution is approved for the purposes of student loans. Applicants can also find out from the institution they have applied to which, if any, of their programs are approved programs. 18. How do I find out if my program is OSAP approved?A. Most postsecondary programs offered by Ontario publicly-assisted universities and colleges of applied arts and technology are OSAP approved. Many, but not all programs offered by Ontario private career colleges in Ontario are OSAP approved. You can determine whether your program is OSAP approved by contacting the financial aid office of the institution you are planning to attend. You can also access this information through the OSAP on-line application at http://osap.gov.on.ca. 19. Will the application refund affect the amount of OSAP a Crown ward is eligible to receive?No. Crown wards are not required to report the application fee refund as income or assets on their OSAP application form. 20. Do I have to apply for or be in receipt of OSAP (a Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan) in order to receive a refund?A. No. 21. Why aren't application fees being paid directly to the postsecondary application centre or institution?Application fees are being refunded for the 2008-09 academic year because most current and former Crown wards starting college and university programs in fall 2008 have already paid their application fees. The program design will be reviewed in the future to see if a different approach would be better. 22. Can I apply for a refund if an Ontario Children's Aid Society or an Ontario Children's Aid foundation paid my application fees?Yes. In this case, the refund will be directed to the Children's Aid Society or Children's Aid Society Foundation that paid your postsecondary application fees. Please see Section 6 (Part A) of the application form. In Section 6 (Part B), the CAS or CAS foundation can indicate if they paid application fees on your behalf. A Children's Aid Society can also indicate in a letter that they or their foundation paid postsecondary application fees on your behalf. 23. Can an Ontario Children's Aid Society (CAS) or CAS foundation claim a refund without the Crown ward's consent?A. No. Reimbursement applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by the Crown ward. 24. How are current and former Crown wards being identified and made aware of the Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program?A. For the 2008-09 academic year, current and former Crown wards will be identified through Ontario's network of Children's Aid Societies. Program information will be posted on the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website. The Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario Colleges Application Service (OCAS) will also be asked to post program information on their websites for the 2009-10 application cycle to maximize program awareness. Ontario Children's Aid Societies and the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies will be requested to post information about the program on their websites. 25. Can application fees paid for the 2008-09 academic year be reimbursed in a future program year?A. Yes. Crown wards may apply for a refund in a program year subsequent to the year they paid the eligible postsecondary application fees. Applications must be received by Resolve Corporation no later than March 31, 2010 to be considered for a refund. |
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