Student union offering funding for undergrads
Following the launch of its Scholarship and Bursary program in 2022, the University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) started the new year with a revitalized funding program for select applicants. The program returns with new, diverse scholarships dedicated to bringing over $130,000 in funding to undergraduate students.
While the Union pledged an annual budget of $175,000 for scholarships and bursaries in 2022, the current program has experienced a decrease of $45,000 in its current iteration.
When asked about the decrease in the program’s funding, Rayne Daprato (UOSU’s current Student Life Commissioner) commented in an email to the Fulcrum that “the budget this year focused a lot on pouring money directly into our services to benefit our students through our programs rather than direct money back into only a few students’ pockets.”
Daprato pointed to an increase in the Union’s monetary support of its food bank, which is run in partnership with the Ottawa food bank.
As per the applicant process in 2022, students were encouraged to apply to the most relevant scholarship for their studies through a form that closed on January 14. A limit of one scholarship per student was determined, regardless of how many grants they may apply for, to allow for a larger number of recipients.
The guidelines encouraged applicants to peruse the listings for several diverse interests, including creative pursuits and organizational efforts.
Additionally, scholarships for Francophone, Indigenous, and gender-diverse peoples are featured this year, marking an increased interest in assisting vulnerable students throughout the University.
As applications closed on Jan. 14, students with questions about the program and possible eligibility for future opportunities are encouraged to consult UOSU’s website and their Instagram. Successful applicants will receive a response from the governing committee in February and funds will be released at the end of March.
For those interested in continued financial assistance, UOSU has also started a Financial Literacy Instagram series, releasing weekly to provide advice in areas such as budgeting. Students can also look forward to the recently developed emergency hardship fund developed by UOSU, but the date is undetermined.
With public outreach and scholarships continuing to gain attention across campus, it’s more important than ever to make sure these services are known to those who need it. As Daprato remarked, “All this to say that the students who need support, will always be able to rely on the union to help, in the best way we can.“
