Hello, Aanii, Bonjour,
Together, we as a community at Laurentian University are navigating a path forward and working hard to ensure that our students receive accurate and current information about the steps we are taking.
When Laurentian announced its insolvency and that a court proceeding for a formal restructuring was to be undertaken under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), it also meant that we had to press pause on certain processes and activities, working with the Court to ensure the best path forward for our students. The Court, at Laurentian’s request, confirmed that amounts payable to students and student associations will continue to be paid in the ordinary course during the existing CCAA stay of proceedings (which currently runs to April 30), in accordance with our existing policies. Those amounts are included in the forecast supporting the $25 million in funding that Laurentian obtained as part of the CCAA filing.
As Laurentian works towards greater clarity for you, we have made progress in addressing some of the delays that may have disrupted your student experience in the days after the filing was announced on February 1, and we want to provide you with this update.
First, the student emergency fund continues to be available to students who have emergency-related expenses due to the pandemic. Students can apply by sending an email at financialaid@laurentian.ca with a letter detailing their financial need due to COVID-19.
Second, refunds are being processed for students who have received a bursary or scholarship and have requested a refund for the credit balance on their student account for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Refunds are also being processed for students who have a credit balance on their student account for the 2020-2021 academic year due to dropped courses according to the fees refund schedule and existing policies. International students who have made a deposit payment in respect of the 2020-2021 academic year are also being refunded upon request according to the International Deposit Policy.
Third, research stipends are also continuing to be processed for graduate students. Students who were receiving a research stipend prior to February 1st will continue to receive their stipend through April 30th. Students who were expecting to receive a research stipend this semester but have not yet received it should contact their Supervisor and their Academic Dean:
- Dean of Health: Dr. Larivière (clariviere@laurentian.ca)
- Dean of SEA: Dr. Millar (dmillar@laurentian.ca)
- Dean of Management: Dr. Delorme (mdelorme1@laurentian.ca)
- Dean of Arts: Dr. Dickinson (jdickinson@laurentian.ca)
Over the last few weeks we have also worked with researchers to address their questions regarding the payment of students from research grant funding. Students who were being paid on February 1, 2021 will continue to be paid during the period of the existing stay of proceedings.
Payments to graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who were being paid as of February 1 for the Winter term are continuing. Payments to graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who started their graduate studies at Laurentian in Winter 2021 are currently being reviewed. Students who have not yet received payment are asked to contact Dayna Hicks in the Faculty of Graduate Studies (dhicks@laurentian.ca).
A process has also been established to identify expenses that are critical to support graduate student research between now and April 30th. Students are asked to speak with their supervisor who can contact the Vice-President Research (vpresearch@laurentian.ca) if they have questions.
We recognize that these processes are not as quick as they normally would be — we thank you for your continued patience as we navigate these challenging times.
We hope that you will continue to check in with us at www.laurentianu.info — we recently updated FAQs that focus on the concerns of graduate students and researchers in particular. We continue to update all FAQs as information becomes available and clarity emerges from this process.
We remain encouraged by how all those involved in helping you pursue your studies have shown their support for you. For each other. Together, we’ll get through these challenges.
Thank you, Miigwech, Merci
Robert Haché, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor
Laurentian University