Tough times force more Ontario students to apply for aid

Regions in Southern Ontario are also feeling the pressure of the recession and have seen the greatest pool of OSAP applicants.

Financial aid requests at the University of Windsor, a city hit hard by a limping auto sector, are up 30 per from last year.

“This is probably just the first wave, an indication of the true picture for the fall,” said Brooke White, the executive director of student development and support at the university.

She said more appeals and requests for special consideration could pour in after September.

White and her colleagues are answering queries from fretful students, many of whom have never needed financial assistance before, because they received support from their families.

“There are more families struggling from job loss in Windsor than in any other area,” said White.

At the University of Western Ontario in London, the registrar’s office said panic and worry haven’t taken hold of students yet, but OSAP applications are still up.

“I would say there’s some real increase there and the numbers suggest 10 per cent (increase),” said Glen Tigert, an associate registrar at the school.

At Ryerson University in Toronto, applications for financial aid are also up 10 per cent.

“We are recognizing, both through reports and what we understand from our students, that we’re going to have to do more with regards to bursary support for students as well,” said Sheldon Levy, the president of Ryerson University.

He said that even with student loans, many students still need more money.

“Students here are sitting around,” said Diverlus, trying to explain how desperate many of his peers have been over the summer months, “They’re sitting around trying to get jobs and get meaningful employment.”

- The Canadian Press