ASAPA Newsletter - May 2025
Welcome!
Hello new members. Welcome to ASAPA (the Alberta Student Awards Personnel Association). We are happy you have joined the Association and look forward to collaborating as we grow our network across the province.
Our membership has a renewed focus on engagement this year and continues to offer many great benefits:
● Access to a network of professionals at post-secondary institutions across the province;
● Opportunities to participate in meaningful discussions using the online members forum and virtual meeting tools;
● Support of the Executive team to bring issues forward for discussion and advocacy;
● Meaningful professional development opportunities;
● Timely updates regarding Alberta Student Aid and Foundational Learning Assistance.
Our membership has a renewed focus on engagement this year and continues to offer many great benefits:
● Access to a network of professionals at post-secondary institutions across the province;
● Opportunities to participate in meaningful discussions using the online members forum and virtual meeting tools;
● Support of the Executive team to bring issues forward for discussion and advocacy;
● Meaningful professional development opportunities;
● Timely updates regarding Alberta Student Aid and Foundational Learning Assistance.
About ASAPA
From the beginning, the purpose of ASAPA has been twofold. The first is to provide an environment for the membership to learn together, and the second to use our unique perspective to advocate for improvements to student financial assistance programs.
ASAPA continues to take an active role in government policy reviews of student financial assistance. With over thirty-five years of experience, ASAPA has become a respected and sought after voice by numerous stakeholder groups.
ASAPA also continues to provide professional development opportunities for our members through our annual fall meeting.
ASAPA continues to take an active role in government policy reviews of student financial assistance. With over thirty-five years of experience, ASAPA has become a respected and sought after voice by numerous stakeholder groups.
ASAPA also continues to provide professional development opportunities for our members through our annual fall meeting.
Connecting with the Association
One of the benefits of your ASAPA membership is connection with other members and the Executive team. To connect with the Association (ask a question or share a thought), please email [email protected].
Members are encouraged to continue contacting Alberta Student Aid Client Resolution Unit (CRU) directly when experiencing issues and concerns. Members are also encouraged to connect with the Association to bring issues and concerns forward as a group, so the Executive is able to advocate for all post-secondary institutions across the province.
Members are encouraged to continue contacting Alberta Student Aid Client Resolution Unit (CRU) directly when experiencing issues and concerns. Members are also encouraged to connect with the Association to bring issues and concerns forward as a group, so the Executive is able to advocate for all post-secondary institutions across the province.
Alberta Student Aid - Updates |
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Year of study: Alberta Student Aid has confirmed that there will be no changes to Batch COR for the 2025-2026 year. Batch COR schools will not be required to confirm year of study for the upcoming year.
Program switching and Early withdrawals: ASAPA Executive has been speaking with Alberta Student Aid at length for the last few months about all the issues arising out of program changes - students being told they need to repay funding before their program can be changed, students being denied funding, significantly long resolution timelines etc.
Thank you to those schools that have been sending in examples of what they are seeing – this helps illustrate the issues that are brought forward to ASA. These conversations have prompted some internal discussion within ASA on their processes.
ASAPA had some concerns with program switching and the Early Withdrawal policy. ASA staff have been asked to watch for the following and to not reject the application.
● If a student submits an RFR stating their withdrawal on the 24/25 app is due to a program change the student may not have to repay.
Scenario 1: Student has been attending for the original study dates and needs to update program on student aid application
○ Student must submit a letter from the school confirming study dates for the correct program. Ideally this will be included with the RFR, however ASA will issue a Missing Information Request if it is not included up front. In this instance, the student would not be required to repay before being allowed to update their program.
○ If Batch COR reported never attend/school reports never attend and the new app received for the same dates but new program, ASA staff have been directed not to reject for early withdrawal.
Scenario 2: Student did not attend during original study dates and is starting their new program at a later date will be required to repay the funds received before being funded again.
If ASAPA members have students that may have been rejected in error the school can reach out to CRU or the student can submit an RFR.
Program switching and Early withdrawals: ASAPA Executive has been speaking with Alberta Student Aid at length for the last few months about all the issues arising out of program changes - students being told they need to repay funding before their program can be changed, students being denied funding, significantly long resolution timelines etc.
Thank you to those schools that have been sending in examples of what they are seeing – this helps illustrate the issues that are brought forward to ASA. These conversations have prompted some internal discussion within ASA on their processes.
ASAPA had some concerns with program switching and the Early Withdrawal policy. ASA staff have been asked to watch for the following and to not reject the application.
● If a student submits an RFR stating their withdrawal on the 24/25 app is due to a program change the student may not have to repay.
Scenario 1: Student has been attending for the original study dates and needs to update program on student aid application
○ Student must submit a letter from the school confirming study dates for the correct program. Ideally this will be included with the RFR, however ASA will issue a Missing Information Request if it is not included up front. In this instance, the student would not be required to repay before being allowed to update their program.
○ If Batch COR reported never attend/school reports never attend and the new app received for the same dates but new program, ASA staff have been directed not to reject for early withdrawal.
Scenario 2: Student did not attend during original study dates and is starting their new program at a later date will be required to repay the funds received before being funded again.
If ASAPA members have students that may have been rejected in error the school can reach out to CRU or the student can submit an RFR.
Foundational Learning Assistance – Updates
Join the Foundational Learning Assistance Community!
Members working with Foundational Learning Assistance are encouraged to join this new “community”, offering open and informal opportunities for members working in this area of financial aid to connect. The “community” will meet online quarterly to share ideas and best practices.
If you are interested in joining, please contact Trina Gammie directly ([email protected]).
Members working with Foundational Learning Assistance are encouraged to join this new “community”, offering open and informal opportunities for members working in this area of financial aid to connect. The “community” will meet online quarterly to share ideas and best practices.
If you are interested in joining, please contact Trina Gammie directly ([email protected]).
A Virtual Welcome Session
To grow member engagement, we would like to host a virtual “welcome” meeting. This would be intended for new members, but open to all members. The meeting will be a great opportunity to connect, including Executive members, and ask any questions. Please indicate your interest in participating in a virtual session by completing this form.
SAVE THE DATE- ASAPA Fall Meeting
Planning is well underway for the ASAPA Fall Meeting and we’re looking forward to bringing members together in Edmonton on November 13 and 14, 2025. Alberta Student Aid has also confirmed their in-person attendance. This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to connect, share ideas, and strengthen the collaborative spirit that drives our work.
As we prepare for this event, we encourage you to get involved in any way you can:
Share Your Ideas: What topics do you think are most pressing or innovative? Do you have a keynote speaker in mind? Your feedback and suggestions are crucial in shaping an event that reflects the needs and aspirations of your colleagues.
Present a Session: Do you have a unique project, research, or insight to share with your colleagues across the province? Presenting a session is a wonderful way to showcase your work, inspire others, and contribute to the collective knowledge of our field. Whether it's a successful initiative or a thought-provoking discussion, your voice is needed! Sessions can be any amount of time and on any topic that you think would be helpful to share with your colleagues across the province.
Please provide your input by completing the ASAPA Fall Meeting Survey and let’s work together to make this an engaging and enriching experience for all.
Just a reminder - the ASAPA Fall meeting is a free benefit for ASAPA members! Join us in Edmonton to help foster meaningful dialogue, gain valuable insights and leave with valuable insights that can enhance your work!
As we prepare for this event, we encourage you to get involved in any way you can:
Share Your Ideas: What topics do you think are most pressing or innovative? Do you have a keynote speaker in mind? Your feedback and suggestions are crucial in shaping an event that reflects the needs and aspirations of your colleagues.
Present a Session: Do you have a unique project, research, or insight to share with your colleagues across the province? Presenting a session is a wonderful way to showcase your work, inspire others, and contribute to the collective knowledge of our field. Whether it's a successful initiative or a thought-provoking discussion, your voice is needed! Sessions can be any amount of time and on any topic that you think would be helpful to share with your colleagues across the province.
Please provide your input by completing the ASAPA Fall Meeting Survey and let’s work together to make this an engaging and enriching experience for all.
Just a reminder - the ASAPA Fall meeting is a free benefit for ASAPA members! Join us in Edmonton to help foster meaningful dialogue, gain valuable insights and leave with valuable insights that can enhance your work!
CASFAA 2025
The ASAPA board hopes to see everyone at the upcoming CASFAA Conference 2025 in Antigonish! If you have any questions about the conference or about joining CASFAA, check out the CASFAA website!