SERVICE DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS TO STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Advanced Education and Employment Minister Warren McCall announced today steps to make it easier for students to apply for financial assistance, including online Saskatchewan Student Loan applications and extended service hours for the program's call centre.

"The advantages of online applications go beyond convenient access and faster processing," McCall said. "We have cut in half the number of paper application forms printed and distributed for the coming academic year, which is a significant benefit to the environment and reduces administrative costs."

Last year the Government of Saskatchewan approved more than 13,500 student loan applications for a total of more than $119 million in support. In addition, student loan recipients were provided with more than $35 million in grants and bursaries to reduce student loan debt; $1.3 million in grants to support students with permanent disabilities, high need part-time learners and female doctoral students; more than $2 million in Canada Access Grants; and nearly $2 million in other awards and scholarship.

Beginning mid-June to mid-October, the Student Financial Assistance call centre offers extended service hours 6 days per week. The new hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Last year, the Student Financial Assistance Branch handled more than 56,000 calls, and served nearly 10,000 students at their office.

This year the Branch will also be administering the new Graduate Tax Exemption program. This initiative ensures that new graduates will not pay provincial income tax on the first $20,000 of earned income for each of the five years following graduation.

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For more information, contact:

Terry White
Advanced Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791
Email: twhite@sasked.gov.sk.ca