Memo attached in PDF format and also available on-line at: http://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/letters/workstudy.htm
To: University of Toronto Students
From: Jill Matus, Vice-Provost, Students
Date: May 30, 2012
Re: Work Study Program
In its April budget, the Government of Ontario eliminated funding for the Work Study program. This decision was regrettable in that the program provided valuable work opportunities. For many of our students, it was their only job during their academic term, and the only work that encouraged experiential learning through application of the skills and knowledge gained in their academic programs.
Up till now, provincial funding to the University of Toronto was $2.5M, offsetting over 50% of our total expenditure for the program, though these funds were restricted to full-time, OSAP-eligible students from Ontario. While the loss of provincial funding is an additional burden on our finances, it also creates an opportunity to revisit the program design so that it better meets objectives for both our students and for the University of Toronto departments and faculty members that employ them.
The Provost has recently announced that we have reconfigured the program for Fall-Winter 2012-13 so that it can be more in line with our objectives for experiential learning opportunities for more of our students. Now that U of T is funding the program, we can expand the criteria for eligibility. In particular, students do not have to be OSAP eligible. We are also extending participation to include students who are part-time (at least 2.0 credits over fall/winter terms), international, or out-of-province.
The University is now going to fund the program on the following basis: an employer contribution of 20% of student wages will be required, while the remaining 80% will be funded centrally. Faculty members will be able to use their Professional Expense Reimbursement Allowance (PERA) funds if they so choose, for the employer contribution.
With the ability to broaden the applicant field, and with the use of other funds (for instance, PERA and departmental funding), we will be able to consider new and exciting positions requiring more specific qualifications. Applications for Fall-Winter 2012-13 work study positions will open shortly.