Members programs of RRUSA (most undergraduate & graduate degrees) are eligible to apply for RRUSA-funded awards & bursaries twice a year. RRUSA awards and bursaries are non-discriminatory, require no academic excellence, and not limited to specific programs. In line with RRUSA’s mission, preference for bursaries and awards are for students who demonstrate financial need.
Applications for RRUSA awards and bursaries are independently assessed by Royal Roads University’s awards committee and awards adjudication panel. Financial reporting on disbursement is publicly available.
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Award
The RRUSA Award was established in 1997 as an endowment and was funded through annual contributions by students at Royal Roads through RRUSA fees up to 2016. Royal Roads matched contributions up to 2008. Awards are dispursed based on the endowment management policy rate, set by Royal Roads Financial Aid & Awards department, which is currently at 4.5%. In 2021, $24,000 was dispersed to 13 members and in 2022, $20,000 was dispersed to 10 members.
Description
Enhancing student life at the University is a goal of the RRUSA. This award will be available to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Royal Roads campus community and/or their home community. The purpose of this award is to reward students who selflessly dedicate time and energy into building a wider sense of community, for example beyond the borders of their cohort. Students in condensed programs who have less time to budget for this extra-curricular activity during study may describe their contribution to their community that occurred in the year leading up to enrollment at Royal Roads.
Eligibility
- RRUSA member in good standing
- recent community involvement beyond the requirements of the academic program or paid employment
- preference will be shown for a candidate who demonstrated reasonable financial need in the case of a tie
Bursary
The RRUSA Bursary was established in 2017 as a restricted fund following 20 years of annual contributions to the RRUSA award. Due to the healthy growth of the award’s endowment, annual contributions were diverted to this bursary instead. Awards are dispursed based on the amount of funding available, with award amounts set by Royal Roads Financial Aid & Awards department (minimum $2,000). In 2021, a lump sum of $10,000 was additionally contributed to the fund from legacy funding. In 2021, $12,000 was dispersed to 6 members and in 2022, $20,000 was dispersed to 10 members.
Description
RRUSA is committed to promoting the general welfare and furtherance of total education for students. In support of that mission, these bursaries assist the more vulnerable RRUSA members who have a compelling life situation and who demonstrate reasonable but critical financial need.
Eligibility
- demonstrates reasonable but critical financial need
- RRUSA member in good standing
- demonstrates a vulnerable or compelling life story
SURF Bursary
The Student Urgent Response Fund (SURF) bursary was established in 2022 as a restricted fund available to members outside of award competition cycles for emergency funding. An initial lump sum contribution of $5,000 was made in 2022 with an additional ~$1,000 being diverted to the fund from legacy funding. The Board of Directors voted in 2022 to commit $5,000 annually in the annual operating budget to the bursary. Royal Roads has also been formally invited to match donations to the fund (up to $5,000).
Bursaries are dispursed based on the amount of funding available, with bursary amounts set by Royal Roads Financial Aid & Awards department (minimum $500) to address the unique needs of each student requiring emergency funding.
Description
This bursary will provide emergency financial support for students who are RRUSA members and are facing unforeseen financial need that creates a barrier to completion of studies.
Understanding that unforeseen circumstances arise during study, this bursary is intended to address reasonable but critical financial need outside the regular cycle of awards. In alignment with the fund name, “Urgent Response” is described as disbursement of funds typically within three weeks. Bursaries and other financial resources should be exhausted for financial need that is not time sensitive.
Eligibility
- Reasonable but unforeseen financial need that creates a barrier to completion of studies
- Other financial resources have been exhausted
- Satisfactory progression in their program
- RRUSA member in good standing
Terms of Reference
RRUSA award and bursary terms of reference are public and available below for reference.
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