The CUPE 2626 Financial Aid Fund seeks to assist union members in cases of demonstrated financial need. It helps with costs associated with tuition fees, dependent care, and the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). Each semester, applications to the Financial Aid Fund are done online at scholarships.uottawa.ca.

Please note that applying to the Financial Aid Fund does not guarantee the attribution of financial aid. The value of individual bursaries will depend on the level of the financial assistance required and on the availability of funds.

Types of Financial Aid

• Tuition Fees Bursary
• Cost of Dependent Care Bursary
• University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) Bursary

Deadlines

• Fall semester: October 15, 11:59 p.m.
• Winter semester: January 31, 11:59 p.m.
• Spring/Summer semester: May 15, 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

Applications to the CUPE 2626 Financial Aid Fund are done online. To apply, first log in into your uoZone/uoAccess account. Choose “Finances and Jobs” from the top menu and, in the “Quick links” section, choose “Online Scholarships and Bursaries”. Complete your Student Profile if necessary. You’ll then be able to see a list of scholarships and bursaries for which you are eligible to apply. You can also search for the CUPE 2626 Financial Aid Fund by typing “CUPE” in the search bar in the upper left corner.

Choose “CUPE Employee’s Financial Aid Fund/Local 2626” and complete your application. All documents should be submitted online using the Online Scholarships and Bursaries application process. Documents include:

• The financial questionnaire (The questionnaire can be accessed through your uoZone account. Choose “Finances and Jobs” from the top menu and, in the “Quick links” section, choose “Financial Questionnaire“)
• The CUPE 2626 form

N.B. The application process for the 2626 Financial Aid Bursary has been updated to match that of other bursaries. As of Fall 2016, applicants are no longer required to submit copies of their lease and contract.

Questions? Contact us at finances@2626.ca.

This fund provides financial help for the purpose of presenting research related to the work performed during a teaching or research assistant position and that is not part of the applicants thesis or memoir. You are not admissible for the CUPE 2626 Conference Fund if you have received funding or are planning to apply for funding through your Faculty for the same conference.

What does this fund pay for?

The Conference Fund reimburses the following expenses to a successful applicant who is a co-author and presenter of the poster or paper presentation, with the understanding that no more than one co-author will be funded for any given poster:

• Travel expenses
• Accommodation expenses
• Registration costs

Reimbursement of all expenses shall be subject to the submission of receipts, up to a total maximum of $800.00 based on the zone.

Deadlines

The application MUST BE presented at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of the conference. Any request will be refused automatically if the applicant does not submit their application in time.

Requirements

Your request must include the following documents/information:

• Proof of membership in CUPE 2626 (such as a copy of your contract)
• Recommendation from your Department or your thesis supervisor.
• Proof of acceptance to the conference.
• Any other sources of funding to prevent expenses from being reimbursed more than once.

Applications must be submitted to info@2626.ca.

In any given academic year, priority will be given to applicants who have not received a grant in previous sessions.

How to Apply

Prior to the conference, please complete the Conference Fund Application Form and submit it along with the necessary documents to info@2626.ca. If your application is approved, upon your return from the conference please fill out and submit to info@2626.ca the Conference Fund Reimbursement Form along with your expense receipts and proof of participation in the conference (such as the conference schedule). Please note that we will ask you to provide us, upon return, your boarding pass and any other proof of passage used during your travels.

The Solidarity Fund is intended for groups and individuals working on events, projects, and campaigns which directly or indirectly benefit members of CUPE 2626. This includes initiatives organized by both members of CUPE 2626 as well as non-members (i.e. academic conference or workshop).

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the Solidarity Fund Application Form. This form includes:

• A description of your event, project or campaign
• An explanation of how CUPE 2626 members may benefit from it
• A detailed budget for your event, project or campaign

Please note that CUPE 2626 will not support any initiative that serves to undermine students/workers rights, equality, social justice, or human rights.

The CUPE 2626 Emergency Fund aims to provide support to members who require financial assistance as a result of unforeseen circumstances. The Fund seeks to strike a balance between providing substantive relief for the circumstances that led a member to apply, and helping as many members as possible with the funds available.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the Emergency Fund Application Form. This form includes:

• A description of the nature of the emergency, including any relevant documentation
• A description of the steps you have already taken to try to address the financial emergency

Note that you must also provide a demonstration of financial need, which includes:

• Filling out the University of Ottawa’s Financial Questionnaire (log into your uOzone account and open the “Finances” tab)
• A budget of expenses and income

Decisions regarding Emergency Fund requests are made by the CUPE 2626 Executive Board at the meeting following the reception of a request. Your identity won’t be revealed to Executive Board members in charge of taking the decisions.

The purpose of this Fund is to provide supplemental financial support to members who have incurred health or dental expenses that are not fully reimbursed by their insurance plan.

Eligible expenses – Please read carefully

Eligible health or dental expenses must have one of the following criteria:

1. Expenses that have been partially reimbursed by your insurer. We will cover the portion that you had to pay yourself.
2. Expenses that could not be reimbursed by your insurer because you have reached the maximum amount set by your insurance plan.
3. Expenses that are recognized by Canada Revenue Agency as “medical expenses”.

Eligible expenses may include costs related to care received by your partner or dependent children if those costs have been partially reimbursed by your insurer. For the sake of accessibility and inclusion, applications that do not fit the eligibility criteria may still be considered by the Executive Board.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the Health & Dental Application Form. This form includes:

• Your contact information. We collect this information to be able to follow up on your application. We will otherwise protect your identity throughout the process.
• Proof of purchase (i.e. your medical bill)
• A claim statement, issued by your insurer
• Proof of membership (i.e. any contract or pay stub issued in the past 12 months)

Please note that the disbursement maximum per member per academic year remains $500 regardless of the dates of the medical or dental expense claims.

Please note that applications will not be considered for expenses incurred more than one (1) year prior to being submitted for reimbursement to the Health & Dental Fund.

Please note that your membership extends up to 12 months after the date of your last contract while you are still a student. Your membership ends if you graduate or if you otherwise lose your student status.

Please note that you need to be logged in your @uottawa.ca email account or any other Gmail account to be able to fill the form. If you need help filling the form, or want to ask us a question, please contact us.