SYNCRUDE HIGHER EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAM (SHEAP) Frequently Asked Questins TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Wh is Universities Canada?...2 2. Where can I get the applicatin frm & guidelines?...2 3. When d I apply fr the Award?...2 4. Wh can apply fr the award?...2 5. Hw many awards can I qualify fr?...3 6. What qualifies as tw years f academic study?...3 7. What if I cmplete my Degree r Diplma in less time than anticipated?...4 8. What is an fficial transcript?...4 9. Hw d I apply fr renewal f my award?...4 10. Is the award taxable?...4 11. What if I am enrlled in a C-p Prgram?...4 12. When and hw will I receive my Award?...4 13. Is there a maximum age limit f eligibility?...5 14. Are married persns eligible fr SHEAP financial supprt?...5 15. What if I attended pstsecndary educatin but did nt successfully pass all my curses?...5 16. What if I withdraw frm a full semester r riginally enrll in the full Academic Year, but d nt return fr the secnd semester?... 5 17. What is my Accunt Number?...6 18. Hw can I verify the status f my award nline?...6 19. I have lst my passwrd, what d I d?...6 20. My accunt has been lcked, hw d I re-activate it?...6 21. Can my parents inquire abut the status f my applicatin/renewal?...6 22. What if I have a disability, r learning disability, that prevents me frm enrlling in a full-time curse lad?...7 23. Am I eligible fr mre than ne award per semester if bth f my parents/step parents wrk at Syncrude?... 7 1 Revised: July 12, 2016
1. Wh is Universities Canada? Fr almst 50 years, Universities Canada has been managing schlarship prgrams and distributing millins f schlarship dllars t students in pursuing pstsecndary educatin. Universities Canada administers the SHEAP prgram n behalf f Syncrude Canada Ltd. They will be yur main cntact thrughut this prcess. Their cntact infrmatin is as fllws: Universities Canada Ref: Syncrude Higher Educatin Awards Prgram 1710-350 Albert Street OTTAWA, ON K1R 1B1 Tel.: (613) 563-1236 Fax: (613) 563-9745 E-mail: awards@univcan.ca 2. Where can I get the applicatin frm & guidelines? If yu are a New Applicant, yu may print the Applicatin Frm & SHEAP Prgram Guidelines frm frm the Cmmunity Investment sectin f www.syncrude.ca. The Syncrude Emplyee (Parent) can als find this infrmatin n Syncrude s intranet via Emplyee Infrmatin SharePint Page > Emplyee Handbk > Awards > Syncrude Higher Educatin Awards Prgram. If yu are a Renewing Applicant please cntact Universities Canada t receive yur renewal package. 3. When d I apply fr the Award? Prvided yu meet all the eligibility requirements as utlined in the SHEAP Prgram Guidelines, the deadline fr applicatins is as fllws: Fr the academic sessin cmmencing in September: Nvember 15 f that year Fr the academic sessin cmmencing in January: February 15 f that year Fr the academic sessin cmmencing in May: June 15 f that year 4. Wh can apply fr the award? In rder t be eligible fr SHEAP financial supprt, an applicant must be: i. A naturally brn child, stepchild, legally adpted child, r a child under legal guardianship f an Eligible Syncrude Emplyee. Fr the purpses f the SHEAP Prgram Guidelines, Eligible Syncrude Emplyee is defined as a current, permanent emplyee f Syncrude Canada Ltd.; frmer, permanent emplyee f Syncrude r Nrthward wh attained fficial annuitant status and wh is receiving a pensin frm either cmpany; r frmer, permanent emplyee f Syncrude r Nrthward wh died while emplyed. Please review Absences & Leaves Benefit Schedule regarding eligibility during a cmpany leave f absence. ii. Financially dependent n the Eligible Syncrude Emplyee (r his r her Estate), r the surviving spuse regardless f the dependent's place f residence. 2 Revised: July 12, 2016
iii. iv. Entering int r already enrlled in full-time studies in a degree r diplma prgram at an Eligible Educatin Institutin. Fr the purpses f the SHEAP Prgram Guidelines, Eligible Educatin Institutin is defined as a Canadian, American r freign educatinal institutin that has recgnized degree/diplma-granting pwers, r their affiliates (e.g. universities, clleges, CEGEPs - technical diplma). Fr freign pstsecndary institutins, the applicant may be required t prvide Universities Canada with dcumentatin prving that the institutin is prperly accredited. Under the age f 25 n September 1st f the Academic Year the applicatin is made, r incapable f self-sustaining emplyment because f mental r physical disability, if the disability cmmenced while the child was a dependent under the age f 25 Applicants can apply fr SHEAP financial supprt in the academic semester r term immediately fllwing an Eligible Syncrude Emplyee s permanent hire date, prvided that the applicant meets the ther eligibility criteria. Fr further infrmatin abut applicatin deadlines, see Article 10 ( Applicatin and Renewal Prcedures ) f the SHEAP Prgram Guidelines. 5. Hw many awards can I qualify fr? Eligible applicants can receive SHEAP financial supprt f $1,200 CAD per academic semester / term, up t a maximum f $2,400 CAD per Academic Year; Fr the purpses f the SHEAP Prgram Guidelines, an Academic Year begins in September and ends in August f the next calendar year; Fr undergraduate studies, eligible applicants can ptentially receive SHEAP financial supprt fr a maximum f: tw years if pursuing studies at the cllege level (ttal ptential SHEAP financial supprt available is $4,800 CAD ver 2 Academic Years); r fur years if pursuing studies at the university level, r a cmbinatin f a university level studies and cllege level studies (ttal ptential SHEAP financial supprt available is $9,600 CAD ver 4 Academic Years). Fr graduate studies and studies twards a prfessinal degree such as Law, Medicine, etc., SHEAP financial supprt is available fr a perid f tw years ver and abve any financial supprt received while pursuing cllege level r university undergraduate studies (ttal ptential SHEAP financial supprt available is $4,800 CAD ver 2 Academic Years -- in additin t undergraduate supprt). 6. What qualifies as tw years f academic study? An Academic Year is understd t begin in September and end in August. Tw years f academic study means tw regular schl years f in-class instructin and study. Sme university and cllege prgrams incrprate c-p, internship r practicum semesters. These are cnsidered wrk terms and nt academic terms. A prgram with ne year f academic studies and ne year f wrk placement experience des nt meet the tw-year full-time academic study requirement. A prgram that cndenses tw r mre years f academic study int a shrter time perid may qualify these will be reviewed n a case-by-case basis. Examples f prgrams that d nt qualify under the schlarship guidelines are: Pwer Engineering C-p at Keyan Cllege r Prcess Operatr C-p at Keyan Cllege. Bth prgrams cnsist f ne year f classrm and ne year f wrk placement, and are nt a degree r diplma prgram. 3 Revised: July 12, 2016
7. What if I cmplete my Degree r Diplma in less time than anticipated? Payments are made based n enrlment fr the entire Academic Year. Fr example, if yu cmplete a 4-year university degree in 3.5 years, and during yur last year yu nly attended ne semester and received payment f $1,200 CAD, yu wuld nt be entitled t the remaining $1,200 CAD. Payment f the award is based n yur statement f fees and prf f registratin fr the entire Academic Year, regardless if additinal curses were taken thrughut the prgram t cmplete the degree in less time. 8. What is an fficial transcript? An fficial transcript will be cnsidered acceptable if it meets the fllwing criteria: i. The transcript is issued directly by the eligible institutin (i.e. the Registrar) and bears the apprpriate signature(s) and/r seal f the institutin. ii. The transcript indicates the final results f the student's perfrmance. Web based transcript print-uts r interim results are nt cnsidered acceptable. 9. Hw d I apply fr renewal f my award? Each year (June/July), Universities Canada mails renewal frms t all students in the prgram. It is imprtant t advise Universities Canada if yu change yur mailing address. If yu d nt receive yur renewal frm, please cntact Universities Canada. 10. Is the award taxable? The award is cnsidered ther incme and culd be taxable depending n the students annual incme. A T4A slip will be issued t each student. In mst cases hwever, students will nt have sufficient earnings t be required t pay any tax. The award is cnsidered as incme t the student and nt the parent. 11. What if I am enrlled in a C-p Prgram? Students registered in c-p r wrk placement terms are nt eligible t receive a payment fr thse semesters, hwever, are eligible fr SHEAP financial supprt fr the semester/term(s) in which they are enrlled in full-time studies. T receive a Syncrude schlarship payment, the student must prvide the required dcumentatin fr full-time academic studies (as utlined in the SHEAP Guidelines). C-p students will als need t submit a c-p schedule in additin t this dcumentatin. 12. When and hw will I receive my Award? It will take apprximately 9 weeks frm the time the cmpleted* applicatin r renewal package is received by Universities Canada t when yu will receive the award in yur bank accunt r by cheque. *a cmplete applicatin r renewal package includes all required supprting dcumentatin such as statement f fees, prf f registratin and fficial transcript (where applicable) 4 Revised: July 12, 2016
Once the award amunt is apprved by Syncrude Canada Ltd., the payment f the award will be sent by Universities Canada. If yu have prvided a vided cheque, it will be sent by electrnic fund transfer t the bank accunt prvided by the award hlder. It is imprtant t keep yur banking infrmatin updated in yur file. 13. Is there a maximum age limit f eligibility? The applicant must be under the age f 25 n September 1st f the Academic Year the applicatin is made, r incapable f self-sustaining emplyment because f mental r physical disability, if the disability cmmenced while the child was a dependent under the age f 25. 14. Are married persns eligible fr SHEAP financial supprt? Married persns are nt cnsidered financially dependent and therefre d nt meet the eligibility criteria fr SHEAP financial supprt; hwever, if an therwise eligible dependent wh is receiving SHEAP financial supprt is married part way thrugh an Academic Year, that persn will cntinue t receive SHEAP financial supprt fr the balance f the Academic Year. The applicant will nt be eligible fr SHEAP financial supprt in the Academic Year fllwing the year in which he r she was married. 15. What if I attended pstsecndary educatin but did nt successfully pass all my curses? If yu received a Higher Educatin Award and did nt successfully pass all curses during the Academic Year, yur award wuld be suspended and yu wuld nt be eligible t receive the award fr the next Academic Year. If yu are in a prgram that is greater than 2 years, yu may qualify fr reinstatement f yur award if yu cmplete pstsecndary studies, at yur wn expense fr ne Academic Year, while maintaining a full time status and passing all curses. If yu have nt received a Higher Educatin Award and yu are a new applicant, we d nt base eligibility n previus pstsecndary studies. Fr example, if yu enrlled in a prgram after high schl and did nt cmplete the prgram, yu culd still apply fr the Award as a new applicant where successfully cmpleting pstsecndary studies is nt cnsidered. 16. What if I withdraw frm a full semester r riginally enrll in the full Academic Year, but d nt return fr the secnd semester? If fr any reasn yu d nt attend classes r withdraw frm yur pst-secndary institutin, it is yur respnsibility t request a refund. The refund must be returned t Universities Canada, c/ the SHEAP prgram administratr at the address indicated in the guidelines. If yu d nt fllw this prcess, upn renewal f yur award fr the next Academic Year yu wuld nt be eligible fr the payment f the amunt already awarded as it was already awarded t yu in the previus year where yu did nt attend full-time studies. Nte: The cmpany reserves the right t request the return frm the student r parent f any awarded amunt nt used t pursue studies at a qualifying pst-secndary institutin. 5 Revised: July 12, 2016
17. What is my Accunt Number? The Accunt Number is unique fr each applicant t a schlarship prgram. It is cmpsed f twelve digits, the first fur representing the year an applicant has applied fr the schlarship, the next three digits representing the cmpany cde, the last five digits represents the file number assigned t a specific individual (example: 201231000005). The Accunt Number is required at varius steps f the schlarship prcess. Fr example, it is required t verify the status f yur applicatin nline and t btain ther infrmatin related t yur schlarship. The Accunt Number will be assigned t yu nce yu apply and will be included in the acknwledgement letter Universities Canada will send yu. 18. Hw can I verify the status f my award nline? Yu can verify the status f yur applicatin nline 24 hurs a day, 7 days a week. T d s, yu need t fllw these simple instructins: 1. G t: www.univcan.ca/schlarships 2. Click n My Accunt 3. Enter yur Accunt Number and passwrd * * if yu d nt have a passwrd, please fllw the instructins n this webpage: https://jun.aucc.ca/wes/?pg=694&pk=0 Once yu have checked yur status nline, and if yu still have mre questins, please call Universities Canada at 613-563-1236 r send yur inquiry directly t Universities Canada: awards@univcan.ca. 19. I have lst my passwrd, what d I d? Visit Universities Canada s Schlarship Partners Canada website at www.univcan.ca/schlarships. Select My Accunt and click n Frgt yur passwrd? at the bttm f the screen. Universities Canada will frward yur passwrd t yur email accunt nce yur identity has been cnfirmed. 20. My accunt has been lcked, hw d I re-activate it? If yu attempt t lgin t the system using an incrrect passwrd, yur sessin will be terminated fr security reasns after three attempts. T re-activate yur accunt, visit Universities Canada s Schlarship Partners Canada website at www.univcan.ca/schlarships. Select My Accunt and click n Yur accunt is lcked? at the bttm f the screen. Universities Canada will frward yur passwrd t yur email accunt nce yur identity has been cnfirmed. 21. Can my parents inquire abut the status f my applicatin/renewal? The infrmatin in yur file will nt be released t anyne else ther than yu and the persn(s) yu authrize t access the infrmatin in yur file. T d s, please cmplete Sectin 6 f yur applicatin frm. Yu may cntact Universities Canada t add smene r mdify yur list f authrized persn(s) at any time. 6 Revised: July 12, 2016
22. What if I have a disability, r learning disability, that prevents me frm enrlling in a full-time curse lad? Cntact Universities Canada fr further infrmatin. 23 Am I eligible fr mre than ne award per semester if bth f my parents/step parents wrk at Syncrude?? A student cannt receive mre than ne SHEAP award in a term/semester, even if they have mre than ne parent wrking at Syncrude. The Prgram Guidelines (Part 2) and Frequently Asked Questins (FAQ s) (Part 5) indicate that the awards are granted based n the level f educatin (cllege, undergraduate r graduate) and the number f academic terms/semesters attended full time (a minimum f tw academic years are required). It is clearly stated that eligible applicants may receive up t $1,200 CAD per academic semester/term, up t a maximum f $2,400 CAD per academic year. The SHEAP is intended t prvide ne award t each eligible student fr each academic term/semester. Therefre, whether r nt a student has mre than ne parent wh is a Syncrude emplyee is nt a cnsideratin fr eligibility. 7 Revised: July 12, 2016