‘Ermineskin Tribal Members’ means any person whose name appears on the approved Ermineskin Tribal Membership List.

‘Treaty No. 6’ means the Treaty of 1876 adhered to by the direct descendents of the Ermineskin Cree Nation with her Majesty the Queen.

‘E.E.T.F.’ means the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund.

‘Continuing Education’ means a program of studies offered by an accredited course offered by Alberta Learning leading to the acquisition of a general or advanced high school diploma.

‘Continuing Education Institution’ means an accredited institution, which is recognized by a province including educational institutions affiliated with or deliver accredited Continuing Education programs by arrangement with an accredited Continuing Education institution.

‘Full Time Students’ must be registered in three (3) or more courses as defined by the semester.

‘Academic Year’ is as defined by the Continuing Education, but not less than eight (8) months and not more than ten (10) months.

‘Term’ or ‘Semester’ as defined by the Continuing Education institution. (1) September to January (2) February to June.

‘Dependents’ means those persons who are living with the student and for whom the student is directly responsible for, legal proof of guardianship.

Support Services’ means financial and moral support plus, academic and career counseling.

Attendance – Custom Law

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The Ermineskin Education Trust Fund Continuing Education Program provides sponsorship and support services to eligible Ermineskin Tribal member students who are registered in a program and attending an accredited institution

An applicant who has been reinstated and is on the Ermineskin Tribal Membership List as Bill C-31 will be referred to INAC/HRD for sponsorship.

To qualify for entry into the program, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

3.1 Must be eighteen (18) years of age at time of application.

3.2 Must be a member of Ermineskin First Nation # 138.

3.3 Must meet all requirements and be accepted by a recognized and accredited public/private Continuing Education institution.

3.4 Must plan their program of studies to ensure completion within 24 student months.

3.5 Ermineskin Tribal students who have a spouse that is employed or
is employable is eligible only for the base allowance.

3.6 Must ensure that any school age dependents are registered and
attending school regularly or funding will be jeopardize or terminated.

3.7 Dependents cannot be claimed more than once by both parents
enrolled in Continuing Education Program.(i.e. refers to childcare support)

3.8 Must not have any outstanding debt owing to the Ermineskin
Education Trust Fund or any educational institution, or any debt owing to, except for debts, which arise in accordance with programs and policies established by the Ermineskin Tribe, or any entity controlled directly or indirectly by the Ermineskin Tribe.

3.9 Must not have been convicted of any offense involving fraud
Against, or misappropriation or embezzlement of any funds from
Ermineskin Education, the Ermineskin Tribe, or any entity controlled directly or indirectly by the Ermineskin Tribe.

3.10 An individual seeking funding from the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund must exhibit qualities of honesty and integrity as determined in the discretion of the Ermineskin Eudcation Trust Fund Board, to be eligible to obtain funding for their education from the E.E.T.F.

3.11 Must not have, as determined by the Ermineskin Education Trust
Fund Board, previously obtained funding from Ermineskin Education Trust Fund for purposes other than the purpose for which the funding was given.

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Each applicant must apply at the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund office, preferably in person, prior to the deadline date for sponsorship. In addition, an applicant must re-apply every year for continued support. Original signature of applicants is required for each new application each year.

Students may apply to the Continuing Education institution of their choice. Conditional acceptance and final acceptance from a Continuing Education Institution does not guarantee that financial assistance will automatically be approved.

A Continuing Student must provide in addition to an application form, the following documents on a yearly basis for ongoing sponsorship support:

1. Waiver form for authorization of release of pertinent information from Continuing Education institution.
2. Confirmation of registration or acceptance letter from the Continuing Education institution.
3. Official transcripts from previous year.
4. Course schedule outline.
5. Fees assessment schedule.

A New Applicant must provide in addition to an application form, the following documents for sponsorship support:

1. Acceptance letter from the Continuing Education institution.
2. Official transcripts from previous enrollment.
3. Course Schedule.
4. Fees assessment schedule.
5. Career plans (One page outlining career objectives).
6. Two letters of reference (when applicable i.e. if employed).
7. Waiver form for authorization of release of pertinent information from Continuing Education institution.
8. Photocopy of Treaty Status Card and/or Band Membership Card.
9. Photocopy of Provincial Health Care Card.
10. New applicants maybe required to do a career assessment or attend a
personal and academic assessment workshop.
11. Academic advising maybe necessary to complete the review process.

The E.E.T.F. Continuing Education Coordinator will process the application and maintain confidentiality. Also, the Continuing Education Coordinator with the E.E.T.F. Director will review and recommend for approval all Ermineskin Tribal students who are eligible for sponsorship support, providing that all of the eligibility criteria have been met. Final decisions will be informed in writing concerning their status arising out of these decisions.

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The priority number assigned to each applicant will be in accordance with the following criteria:

Priority 1 – Continuing Student
Is any student continuing from the past to current academic year without a break in studies. Continuing sponsorship will be dependent upon academic performance.

Priority 2 – Deferred Student
Is any student, although having met all deadlines of the current academic year, was denied due to lack of funds.’

Priority 3 – Returning Student
Is any student returning after a break in studies, including any student who withdrew due to medical reasons documented and who was previously funded by Ermineskin Education Trust Fund Continuing Education Program. A space cannot be held for a student due to number of students on waiting list.

Priority 4 – Probationary Student
Is any student having been required by a Continuing Education Institution to withdraw for reasons indicated by that institution or E.E.T.F.

Priority 5 – Late Student Applicant
Is any student who did not meet deadline dates as specified in this policy.

Priority 6 – Inexcusable Student Program Withdrawals
Includes any student who was terminated, withdrew without proper notification or failed to attend classes after receiving Continuing Education assistance. students falling into this category will adhere to the following:

Serve a suspension period as determined by the Appeals Committee. Please note E.E.T.F. Clause: ‘Any student or parent who abuses any program of the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund in any manner shall forfeit their right to apply to any other program of E.E.T.F. until such time that he/she makes restitution to this office.’

Continuing Education Assistance – Living Allowance Rates:

A. Living allowances are a set rate and must cover all expenses.

B. Living allowances are provided only for full time students.

C. The Monthly Allowance Rates are as follows and are applicable to those attending institutions on or off the reserve.
$25.00 per/day based on your attendance record, $500.00 per/month.

D. Pay periods will follow a bi-weekly schedule once the programs have started.

Should there be an increase or decrease in any allowance rates, E.E.T.F. shall provide a sixty (60) day notice to all of the Continuing Education students currently funded under the program.

‘No Advances’ will be issued to students. The only exceptions will be if there has been a death or serious illness within the immediate family, at which time the student and E.E.T.F. will determine a repayment plan.

Students must attend ‘Orientation’ every August. The place and date of the Orientation will be set by August 15th and made known to students.

• Incomplete information on the student’s application form.
• False or fraudulent information in any form will disqualify a student
  From obtaining further sponsorship for a maximum of three (3) years, an appeals process is in place for the student. Refer to section 9.3 page 12.
• Notification from the Continuing Education Institution of student’s withdrawal or dropping out of program of study.
• Failure by student to complete all scheduled courses.
• Inexcusable absenteeism from courses that is affecting academic performance exceeding consecutive instructional days as defined by refer to page 6.
• When a student has exceeded allotted student months as defined in the Level of Sponsorship – “Limits of Support” section 9.0 page 10.
• When a student’s full time status has changed to part time status without providing notice to the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund Continuing Education Program.
• Failure of student to pass and/or withdrawing from the majority of courses per academic term/semester.
• Termination of a student by a Continuing Education Institution.
• When the school age dependent child/children are not registered or are truant. Refer to attendance by-law
• Student being funded must attend at least 60% of class instruction.

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Any student who abuses the Continuing Education Student Funding in any manner shall forfeit his/her right to apply for any program of the E.E.T.F. until such time he/she provides:

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Enrollment of full time student must be in a recognized and accredited public/private Continuing Education institution. Students must plan their program of studies to ensure for completion within the allotted student months.

Support will be provided for three (3) levels of Continuing Education. The duration of support will go in accordance with the official length of the program as defined by the Continuing Education institution in which the student is enrolled in or as determined by the students personal progress rate.

Level 1: Adult Education – Grades 7 -9

Level 2: Adult Upgrading – Grades 10 -12

Level 3: High School Completion

Sponsorship limit is 24 months or the number of academic years officially defined by the Continuing Education Institution. However, extensions to the program may be granted up to a maximum limit of 10 additional months for program completion.

Must enroll in three or more courses per term/semester from one institution.

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a) Programs Outside of Canada

If a student is enrolled in an Continuing Education Program outside of
Alberta or Canada their allowance rates will be paid according to the
Continuing Education Program Policies.

b) Transfers

A student transferring from one institution to another within the academic year will be required to submit the following documents:

(1) Letter of permission from the original Continuing Education institution enrolled in.
(2) Letter of acceptance and list of all transferable courses from the Continuing Education institution the student is transferring to, providing that the majority of courses are transferable to the program of study.

Transfers are not encouraged by the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund Continuing Education Program.

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a) Course Load:

Students are required to register in a minimum of three courses and not more than five courses per term in order to be considered full time, preferably from on institution.

b) Student Progress (Marks):

Students are required to submit their Mid-Term marks by February 15th and Final Marks by July 15th, to the Adult Education Coordinator.
Failure to submit transcripts will result in:

1) Student monthly allowance being withheld.
2) Application for the next academic term may not be considered.

c) Academic Probation:

Students will be placed on academic probation based on the following:

1) Student who do not retain a passing mark in all their courses.
2) Students who have been placed on academic probation by the Continuing Education Institution they attend.
3) Academic review will be administered once transcripts are submitted.

d) Terms of Probation:

Students who have not satisfied the academic requirements of their program shall be expected to do the following (Refer to Penalty Clause section 8.0 page 9)

(1) Withdraw for a period of one year from program of studies.

(2) Meet with the E.E.T.F. Director and Adult Education Coordinator to review academic requirements and student progress.

(3) Re-apply for funding however will remain ineligible until the probationary period has been served and the student has met all requirements for reinstatement.

(4) If more than one probation disciplinary action is issued against the student, the said student will be required to withdraw for a period of one year.

(5) The student must then meet all requirements for reinstatement before they can be considered eligible to re-apply for funding.

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To ensure fairness and equitable treatment for all students in the Continuing Education Program. The following appeals policy and procedure has been developed to resolve disagreements.

1. Both the students and staff responsible for the E.E.T.F. Continuing Education Program must make every effort to comply with the E.E.T.F. Continuing Education Program policies and procedures.

2. Any student who believes that the E.E.T.F. Continuing Education Policies have been unfairly applied to their situation may appeal the decision within one (1) month commencing the day of notification.

3. A letter must be submitted in writing outlining the grounds for the appeal and submitted to the E.E.T.F. Director. The appeal however must be accompanied with all previous documentation from the parties involved.

4. The appeal will than be reviewed by the E.E.T.F. Director and if the appeal is considered to have merit, the student’s appeal will be placed on the agenda of the E.E.T.F. Board of Trustees and dealt with as soon as possible.

The decision of the Ermineskin Education Trust Fund Board will be final.

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