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Chapter 7:
Designation for Student Loans and Grants- Introduction to Designation
- Canada and Alberta Acts and Regulations
- General Program Designation Requirements
- Accelerated Programs
- Pan-Canadian Designation Policy Framework
- Obtaining Designation Status
- Requirements for Alberta Educational Institutions and Programs
- Alberta Private Career Colleges (PCCs)
- Change of Ownership
- Accredited Indigenous Post-Secondary Institutions in Alberta
- Accredited Divinity Programs
- Requirements for Programs at Educational Institutions Outside of Alberta
- Additional Requirements for Programs Delivered Online
- Maintaining Designation Status
- De-designation
- Contact Information – Designation Process and Policy Inquiries
De-designation
The educational institution will be provided written notification of the loss of its designation status and the effective date of de-designation. The program(s) offered by the educational institution may continue to be offered if the appropriate licensing or approvals are in place, but student aid funding will not be issued to students. Programs may regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet all requirements for designation.
Loss of Accreditation Status
Alberta Student Aid may de-designate any program and/or educational institution that is no longer accredited by the appropriate regulatory authority.
Unsatisfactory Repayment Rates
Alberta Student Aid may de-designate any educational institution for student aid when targets for student loan repayment rates are not achieved by the end of an established three year evaluation period.
Unsatisfactory Employment Rates
Alberta Student Aid may de-designate a program for student aid based on poor graduate employment outcomes or poor potential graduate employment outcomes.
Non-compliance with PCC Institution Designation Requirements
Alberta Student Aid may de-designate an Alberta PCC when the institution is non-compliant with the requirements below:
- adhere to the Alberta Institution Designation Agreement for Student Aid which will require the educational institution to comply with legislation, permit audits and to meet other requirements including to:
- insure its operations under a contract of General Liability Insurance, in accordance with the Insurance Act, in an amount not less than $2,000,000 insuring against bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage,
- establish and publish its tuition and fee policies,
- adhere to the withdrawal requirements as described in the AIDA and refund requirements as described in the Private Vocational Training Regulation, and inform students of these requirements,
- provide student financial assistance information to support its students to make informed funding decisions including information regarding loan repayment obligations and implications,
- collect and report information to Advanced Education as required, and
- maintain a loan repayment strategy.
Review of De-designation Decision
An educational institution may contact the Program Accountability and Designation Unit if they wish to request a review of the decision to de-designate. The educational institution must provide a written submission that addresses the issues identified in the de-designation letter and any other applicable information.
The written submission must be received within 60 calendar days from the date of the decision notification.
Alberta Student Aid will review all of the information submitted and may contact the educational institution if additional information is required. As part of this review, a meeting with the educational institution’s representatives may be scheduled to seek further clarification.
Once a decision has been made, the educational institution’s owner or designated representative will be notified in writing.
Application to Reinstate Designation
An educational institution that has been de-designated may re-apply for designation after a three-year period has passed from the effective date of de-designation by contacting the Program Accountability and Designation Unit, provided that the institution’s program(s) still meets Alberta’s designation criteria.