The Learners from Care Academic Success program provides support for youth from foster care to participate fully in their university experience both inside and outside of the classroom. With wraparound support from admission through graduation, students can focus on excelling in their studies and meeting their academic and career goals.
Program Goals
The Learners from Care Academic Success program aims to create a welcoming and supportive environment for current and former youth from care to participate fully in the Laurier experience. By removing financial barriers, expanding opportunities for faculty and peer mentorship, and providing a consistent campus contact, the program provides holistic support to students as they navigate the university environment.
Program Highlights
- Financial Support: Yearly financial support for all eligible undergraduate students including full-time, part-time, and virtual students
- Campus Navigation Support: Program planning, direct referral to wellness supports, campus tours, and course registration advice.
- Emergency Funding: Short-term funding support for unexpected situations.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons who meet OSAP eligibility requirements to be eligible for this program.
- Open to all current or incoming Laurier undergraduate students with at least one year of current or former care experience.
- Must be in a degree seeking program at Laurier (Sussex and double degree programs must have Laurier as your home campus) and be registered in courses each term to recieve funding.
- Verification of status with the Ontario Children’s Aid Society is required with Learners from Care program application.
- Self-identify through the OSAP application process and provide the supporting documentation (OSAP Verification of Status with Children’s Aid Society Form).
- You must apply through the Learners from Care Application 2026/27 form.
Tuition Support
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate students will receive a bursary equal to the cost of their tuition each term to a maximum of 20.0 credits (40 courses) over the course of the degree. The total financial award is based on your program of study and the total number of credits required.
- Note: only first attempts are included in the tuition bursary. Repeated courses will not be included in the tuition bursary calculations.
Graduate Students
- Graduate students who register with the Learners from Care program will receive support with campus and resource navigation, regular connection and referrals throughout their program.
- Note: Graduate students are not eligible for the tuition bursary or emergency funding through the Learners from Care program. See Funding Opportunities for additional funding information and support.
Residence
- Undergraduate students registered with the Learners from Care program may be eligible for residence flexibility. If you are considering living in a Laurier residence, connect with a Learners from Care program coordinator to discuss your options. Residence flexibility may include flexible move-in and move-out dates, a delayed residence deposit, and senior student living arrangements.
- Contact a program coordinator at learnersfromcare@wlu.ca
Additional Financial Support
In addition to the tuition bursary, you may be eligible for additional financial awards through scholarships and bursaries as well as the Emergency Fund for Learners from Care.
- Learners from Care will also have access to emergency funding on an as-needed basis for extenuating circumstances
- The Learners from Care Emergency Bursary is intended to provide additional funding to individual students enrolled in the Learners from Care Program who, as result of an unforeseen financial crisis or financial difficulties, are in need of additional support
- Funds are intended to help with costs such as rent, food, books and other living expenses, and is not intended to subsidize the cost of tuition or university fees. Eligible students could recieve up to a maximum of $500 to cover non-tuition expenses.
- Emergency funding is only available once per year for students. Students must be able to show significant financial need in order to be eligible.
- Students requiring one-time emergency funding should email the Learners from Care Program email, learnersfromcare@wlu.ca, with the subject line "Request for Emergency Funding" to move forward with next steps.
Additional Support
- If you are in need of immediate support, email adalimonte@wlu.ca.
- For questions regarding your Learners from Care Bursary Award, please reach out to the Learners from Care team by email at learnersfromcare@wlu.ca.
- For all other financial aid inquiries, visit Service Laurier.