Students discuss changes to provincial and law school policies
On September 30, 2019, the Students’ Law Society (SLS) held their annual Financial Aid and Tuition Town Hall to address the changes to provincial funding and to the Faculty of Law’s financial aid system, and to hear students’ concerns about the shifting financial landscape. The town hall was led by current Financial Aid Committee members Morgan Watkins (SLS President) and Robert Nanni (Vice-President of StAG), and former member Alex Severance (2L StAG Representative).
The Ford government’s changes to education funding were at the forefront of the town hall. Among other policies, the provincial government slashed tuition by 10%, translating to an approximate $3,300 per year decrease in the Faculty’s domestic JD tuition.
Additionally, OSAP was restructured in that more of its aid went to loans instead of grants, the definition of an “independent” student changed from having graduated high school at least four years prior to six, and the post-graduation grace period for interest accumulation was eliminated. While students do not need to start making payments until six months after graduation, interest on OSAP loans now begin accruing immediately upon graduation.
The provincial government also made student society levies optional, leaving student groups and clubs that already receive very little Faculty funding in uncertain waters.
Concerns from the audience were raised about the apparent disparity between the Faculty’s emphasis on its extracurriculars and student societies when recruiting new students, and the financial resources the Faculty actually provides to those extracurricular opportunities.
Turning to the Faculty’s own financial aid program, the town hall highlighted two changes to the financial aid calculation algorithm: the first $5,000 of unmet need is now addressed by interest-free loans, and students who have siblings also in post-secondary education is no longer a factor in the calculation.
One audience member expressed concerns on the Notice of Assessments being released near the end of September as it forces students to make financial decisions, such as signing a lease, without knowing how much (if any) aid they can expect from the University.
Another comment was made about the Financial Aid Office’s consideration of parents’ income, as opposed to household income, which is what OSAP considers. U of T Law’s Financial Aid calculations only excludes a parent’s income in cases of estrangement.
Also discussed was the law school’s Post-Graduate Debt Relief Program (PDRP), which helps graduates earning annual salaries of $60,571 or less repay eligible student debts. Graduates that are pursuing careers in public interest, furthering their education, or have familial obligations or disabilities are all eligible for the PDRP.
A major point of discussion last year was whether the PDRP should limit aid to only graduates who pursue public interest careers. A selling point of the University of Toronto’s JD program is its commitment to helping students pursue such careers, irrespective of debt. However, students expressed worries about excluding familial obligations and disability accommodations from consideration altogether.
