Queen’s University has announced it is launching the Promise Scholars program, designed to increase access for first-generation students in the Kingston area. The new program will provide the students with financial, academic, and career support that will enable them to complete a first-entry degree debt-free and gain valuable work experience.
“Eliminating barriers to higher education is an imperative for our institution. Supporting students from our community so they can advance their knowledge and ambitions is integral to the mission of Queen’s. We know our graduates make a difference and education allows them to realize their dreams, contributing to not just Queen’s but the world beyond our walls,” said Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane. “Community engagement begins at home and I am excited about this program and its potential to help make a difference in the lives of young people and their families in the Kingston area.”
On Thursday, Deane retweeted the University’s announcement, adding “I am very happy we are introducing this program to students in Kingston #ygk. Please share with any eligible student you know who is interested in pursuing their education at Queen’s”.
I am very happy we are introducing this program to students in Kingston #ygk. Please share with any eligible student you know who is interested in pursuing their education at Queen’s https://t.co/EzO5MSUKmO
— Patrick Deane (@QueensPrincipal) September 20, 2019
In a release, the university describes the Promise Scholars program as helping to break down financial barriers that students from lower-income backgrounds encounter in accessing post-secondary education.
The students will receive complete funding for tuition, fees, books, and supplies, as well as financial support for residence in first year and a living allowance during their second, third, and fourth years. The first cohort of Promise Scholars will begin in September 2020 as part of the Class of 2024.
“We know that completing a university degree can be a transformative experience for students, but even with existing financial assistance programs, the cost to attend can be a barrier,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “We wanted to design a program to provide qualified students facing significant financial challenges with the opportunity to pursue their chosen degree, gain valuable work experience, and participate fully in university life.”
The university says prospective, eligible students can request to be considered for Promise Scholars when they apply to first-entry undergraduate programs at Queen’s. “In order to be eligible for consideration, applicants must receive admission to a Queen’s first-year undergraduate degree program, be a first-generation student from the local region, and have a family income of $50,000 or less,” according to Queen’s. More information about eligibility criteria can be found on the Promise Scholars webpage.
Read the full announcement at the Queen’s Gazette
Photo: John Marino (cc)
