IMPORTANT NOTICES

SIP part-time funding is only available for students enrolling in courses as part of Certificate programs approved by Alberta Advanced Education. These approved certificate programs are listed below. All other courses are no longer SIP fundable.

IMPORTANT FOR ESL APPLICANTS:

Students requesting ESL funding through the Skills Investment (SIP) for English Language Foundations (ELF) Levels 1 or 2 part-time courses at SAIT must provide information (card or letter) from ILVARC indicating their current benchmark levels and how much LINC programming they have taken. Technically, SIP applicants should exhaust all LINC hours prior to applying for SIP funding for ELF at SAIT. LINC programming should bring a student to Level 5 Reading/Writing and Level 6 Listening/Speaking. However, if an applicant is able to prove (via ILVARC letter) that they either cannot access LINC on a full time basis due unavailable programs/waitlists and part time training is not a viable option, they may be considered for SIP funding for ELF.

If you plan to apply for part-time funding, please do so immediately after you register and pay for your course(s) to allow time for sufficient review by SAIT SIP and for any unanticipated delays. All funding applications must be received by Alberta Student Finance from the SAIT SIP office prior to the course end date. Otherwise funding applications are automatically rejected. It can take several weeks for both SAIT SIP and Alberta Student Finance to review applications and approve funding.  Please ensure you follow the steps below and submit all relevant information at the time of application for part-time funding.

SAIT SIP cannot release funds for part-time funding until after the second class has been attended regardless of the release date on your AEI letter.  Refunds must be approved through the SIP Office in MC211 (Heart Building).  Please bring a copy of your AEI letter and valid ID.

Basic Eligibility Criteria for All Part-time Course Funding

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be out of Elementary, Junior or Senior High School for 12 consecutive months
• Must be a resident of Alberta at the time of application
• Must be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee with valid study or work permit
• Must be below the applicable income threshold according to line 236 of your most recent Income Tax Return (see below)

* For each additional child add $5,000

  Must meet the following asset requirements:

- RRSP’s owned by the learner and/or spouse/partner must not exceed $100,000

- Liquid Assets (savings, term deposits, GICs, Bonds, stocks, cash on hand, etc.) must not exceed $5,000

• Must pass all funded courses to qualify for future funding (if a student accessed part-time funding to complete a course and failed it, they cannot access part-time funding again to complete that same course).
• Income Support recipients must notify their Income Support worker when applying for part-time training.
• EI recipients must consult with HRSDC about collecting EI benefits while attending training.
• Full-time SIP funded students can access part-time funding to repeat courses they failed as a full-time funded student provided they are now attending SAIT on a part-time basis. (See your SIP advisor for details).

Skills Investment Part-time Bursary (SIB)

Receive up to $5,000 per academic year for training

Eligible recipients will be reimbursed the cost of tuition and books only. SIB does not cover living costs associated with attending training.

Eligibility Criteria

Review the basic eligibility criteria for all part-time course funding at the top of this page. In addition, you must also meet the following criteria specific to the Skills Investment Part-time Bursary:

• Cannot be a Skills Investment full-time funded learner
• Must have already registered into your course(s) to apply for part-time funding
• Must be enrolled in less than 60% of full time course load (full time course load is usually six/seven courses per semester depending upon the program)
• Must be assessed as in need of training and certificate is in line with career goals (i.e. not a significant change in career, see below for application process)
• Can be employed or unemployed
• Must not have applied for AE&I Part-time Bursary within the same time period
•   Course(s) must be part of an Alberta Advance Education Designated Certificate Program (Note: some of these certificates may only be offered on a full time basis & not available for part-time funding):
• English Language Foundations
• Academic Upgrading
• CADD Operator I & II
• Process Pipe Drafting

Application Process

Please carefully review and complete each of the steps below as part of the part-time SIB application process.

Step 1:  If you have registered for your course(s) and feel you meet the basic eligibility criteria, please complete and submit the Assessment Form (link opens *.xls file; opens new browser window) or in person at the SIP office in the Heart Building (MC 221).

This will help both you and your SIP Advisor to determine your funding eligibility or possible issues that must be addressed prior to funding. Please ensure you include previous employment and education information and an updated resume or the form will be returned to you.

Step 2: Save a soft copy of the completed Assessment Form and e-mail it to: Skills Investment (a printed paper version is NOT acceptable). Your assessment should be saved as legal first and last name and the date you completed the form (for example: John Doe Jan 16-08.xls)

The soft copy is required in case there are errors or questions regarding your completed form.

Note: If you have questions or problems completing the assessment please e-mail the assessment with your questions/concerns. We would also like your comments on the assessment as this is a new tool and we would appreciate your feedback.

Step 3: You will be contacted by your SIP Advisor about your assessment within 10 business days.  You will be contacted by e-mail so please ensure you have a reliable e-mail account. (We have had trouble sending information to yahoo and hotmail accounts).  If you have not received feedback within 10 business days please contact the SIP office  The advisor will advise of any potential concerns related to your eligibility and ask you to provide documents as indicated below:

• Copy of line 236 of your and/or your spouse's most recent Income Tax Return
• Completed Training Support Application (Alberta Works funding form) - Part-time Study (Green Form - available from the SIP office in the Heart Building (MC 221).
• A copy of a completed Register a Person Form

Relevant documentation as proof of costs (i.e. bills) is also mandatory if you plan to indicate additional costs for:

• Childcare requirements and costs while attending part-time course(s)
• Internet access requirements and monthly amounts to attend part-time course(s)
• Monthly transportation costs to attend course(s)

You may also be asked to provide:

• RRSP documentation (if applicable)
• Liquid asset information (bank account statements, GICs, stocks bonds, etc. if amounts indicated)

Please submit all required items at the same time to the SIP office either via e-mail, fax (403.284.7345), or in person.  Receiving one or two items at a time may result in lost material.

Once your completed information has been reviewed and the necessary sections have been completed by SAIT SIP, it will be forwarded to the AEI Learner Income Support Centre for financial determination.  This can take from 6 to 12 weeks.  You will be notified by AEI by letter as to your financial award.