Bursary Program

1. Academic Year – the academic year normally refers to two semesters with an approximate duration of eight (8) months.
2. Approved Post-Secondary Institution – a public post-secondary institution that offers diploma and degree programs.
3. McMurray Metis Member – a person whose has submitted all required documentation and has been approved.
4. Compassionate Reasons – reasons pertaining to the death, incapacitating illness or serious accident of an immediate family member and approved at the discretion of the Bursary Committee.
5. Fraud – any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive the McMurray Metis to its disadvantage and carried out for the purpose of achieving personal gain
6. Full-Time Student – a student, who in each semester of the first year of a degree or diploma program, takes a minimum of four (4) courses and in the second and subsequent years takes a minimum of three (3) or more courses per semester.
   Exception: Where the student is in his/her last year of study and the course curriculum requires only three (3) courses per semester to graduate at the end of that academic year, this student may be deemed as a full-time student.
7. Part-Time Student – a student who takes less than three (3) courses in each semester.
8. Continuing Student – a student who has been successful in previous McMurray Metis bursary application and is continuing with studies in their program.
9. Trade School Student – a student who is enrolled fulltime in a technical/vocational school at a postsecondary institution designed for trade training, apprentice education for a specific skilled career.
   
10. Medical Reasons– refers to a serious illness or injury in which the student will be absent from classes for more than one week. The student is required to provide the Bursary Committee with a note or certificate from the doctor or medical institution that provides details of the illness or reason for absence from classes. Failure to do so may result in the student being required to reimburse the McMurray Metis for all educational funds that have been provided to the student in the semester during which the absence took place.
11. Post-Secondary Education – a program of studies, offered by a post-secondary institution, for which completion of secondary school studies or its equivalent is a pre-requisite
12. Program of Studies – includes all post-secondary programs, at least one academic year in duration, leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree. Programs (i.e., Pre-Law) less than one academic year which are pre-requisites to post-secondary programs of at least one academic year in duration are included.
13. Metis – means a person who self-identifies as a Metis, is distinct from other aboriginal peoples, is of historic Metis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Metis Nation.
14. Confidentiality – The obligation of strict confidentiality is incumbent on both the recipient and the bursary committee.

To be eligible for support under the Bursary Program the Applicant:

• Must be a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) – photocopy of card required.
• Must be active members in good standing with the McMurray Métis Local 1935 (i.e., Attend membership meetings, Annual General Meeting, McMurray Métis events, etc.) – photocopy of card required.
• Must have met accredited Post-Secondary Institution entrance requirements and provide Proof of Enrollment.
• Must be enrolled in full time post-secondary educational programs, and with a course load of three or more academic subjects or enrolled in an apprenticeship program.
• Must supply most recent high school or post-secondary transcripts. Copies of previous semester course marks are necessary. Transcripts must show passing grades.
• The program of studies must be longer than eight (8) months in length and must lead to a certificate, diploma or degree unless enrolled in trade school
• Must include two current (within last 2 years) letters of reference – one must be from an Indigenous person in your community. (Do not use family members for reference purposes)
• Must complete application in its entirety.
• Successful applicants must complete their volunteer commitments within 6 months of receiving award.

Full-Time Student To qualify for full-time status, the student must be registered in:

• • First Year – a minimum of three (3) courses or 9 credits per semester
  • Second and Subsequent Years – a minimum of three (3) courses or 9 credits per semester

Part-Time Student To qualify for part-time status, the student must be registered in less than three (3) courses per semester. (Course reimbursement based on proof of successful completion along with course receipts to a maximum of $1000.00 per annum).

Trade School Student A student who is enrolled fulltime in a technical/vocational school at a postsecondary institution designed for trade training, apprentice education for a specific career.

It is the students’ responsibility to give written notice to the post secondary institution and the McMurray Metis of their withdrawal from school.

If the withdrawal is deemed to be for medical or compassionate reasons, the Bursary Committee will allow the student to reapply the following semester.

If the student withdraws for a second time and there is no medical or compassionate reason, he/she may be suspended indefinitely from future educational support.

If a student is suspected of committing fraud against the McMurray Metis, all future funding will be suspended until the student can provide evidence to the contrary.

If a student is found to have committed a fraudulent act against the McMurray Metis, all assistance provided to the student will be terminated. The student will be ineligible to reapply for two academic years following the year in which the fraudulent activity occurred, provided all money owed to the McMurray Metis has been recovered.

Application Process

Complete the online “Bursary Application”. The package includes the Education Funding Policy and a set of forms (refer to Appendix A) that must be completed and returned to the Bursary Committee via email bursarycommittee@mcmurraymetis.org. Incomplete applications without all required supporting documentation will not be processed.

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Students are responsible for reading and understanding the terms set out in this policy manual. Where clarification is needed, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Bursary Committee for a further detailed explanation.

• Application of New Students

New students must submit:

• • • Completed application forms
    • All necessary supporting documents:
    • Statement of intent
    • Letter of acceptance from approved post-secondary institution
    • Copy of your Metis Nation of Alberta card
    • Copy of your McMurray Metis 1935 card
    • Official transcript
    • Must include two current (within last 2 years) letters of reference – one must be from an Indigenous person in your community. (Do not use family members for reference purposes)

• Application of Continuing Students

To retain eligibility status, continuing students must reapply each year by providing the following documents:

• • • completed application forms
    • all necessary supporting documents:
    • Letter of acceptance from approved post-secondary institution
    • Official transcript
    • Must include two current (within last 2 years) letters of reference – one must be from an Indigenous person in your community. (Do not use family members for reference purposes)

• Annual Application Deadline:

All students must reapply each year prior to the application deadline date.