UOIT receives award for work with crown ward students

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) was recently recognized for its involvement in various initiatives that help crown ward students in Durham Region succeed in post-secondary education.

Joe Stokes, Assistant Director of Retention and Pathways, Registrar’s office, attended an event at the Durham Children’s Aid Society on September 12 to accept a plaque recognizing UOIT’s efforts to improve accessibility to education for wards of the crown. Stokes is a member of the Durham/York Region Crown Ward Education Championship Team (CWECT), a committee comprised of representatives from colleges, universities, school boards and Children’s Aid Societies in Durham and York regions. The team raises awareness about the needs of crown wards – children who are in the care of the state because their parents are either deceased or are not fit to care for them. 

"Durham Region has a high proportion of children in crown ward care, and UOIT is committed to helping them achieve their full potential in university," said Stokes.

CWECT works with crown wards to improve the likelihood of success in a post-secondary educational environment. Some of the committee’s most effective initiatives include:

• information sessions and literature designed for crown wards looking to apply to university
• mentorship events
• on-campus events to help prepare crown wards for transition to post-secondary life
• symposiums with senior decision-makers across Durham and York Regions to raise awareness of the issues crown wards face

UOIT is also a partner with the Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards. Under the terms of the grant, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities covers 50 per cent of the crown ward’s tuition for a post-secondary educational program of two or more years in length, up to a maximum of $3,000 per academic year, for a maximum of four years. Participating colleges and universities match whatever the province gives, which allows the student to attend the post-secondary institution with strong financial support.

“We are proud to be involved with the Ontario Access Grant, which will ultimately encourage more crown ward students toward university study,” Stokes said.