More than 100 Calgary college students waiting on Alberta student aid funds for nearly a year

Dozens of students from Calgary's Qcom College of Technology (QCT College) say they've been waiting upward of eight months for funding they were approved for by Alberta Student Aid to be disbursed, and now, after a 45-day review period has come and gone, they still don't have any answers — or money.

In April, CBC News reported a small group of students in QCT's medical office assistance program who had been approved for student aid funding by the province hadn't received a penny of their promised funding for living and tuition, and that just that week their account statuses changed from approved to under review. 

Student Michelle Duka said when the reviews were launched, she and many of her fellow classmates facing this issue, immediately uploaded any documents that were being asked of them by Alberta Student Aid. Up to now, they haven't received any updates from the province.

'Frustrated, mad, angry'

Since then, students like Duka have written their final exams and started mandatory practicums, but still haven't been able to pay the school a dime in tuition.

"I'm so frustrated, mad, angry," she said. "And I'm stressed out because I don't know what to do anymore ... I cannot afford to pay it from my own pocket, the tuition."

Classmate Cyrine Oppus Bation said communicating with student aid has been most difficult. She was most recently told over the phone that she would receive an update at the end of this week, so she continues to wait.

After patiently waiting for a few months, still no outcome.- Cyrine Oppus Bation

"You are expecting that you were able to receive that money. But unfortunately, you know, after patiently waiting for a few months, still no outcome," she said. 

"You have to come up with something to for you to to pay some of your bills, because you know that the student loan you are expecting that one will help for you financially. Right? But now it's not."

More than 100 students waiting

QCT's CEO Saqib Qureshi said Duka and Oppus Bation are just two of more than 100 students at the school whose student aid funding for tuition and living is under review by the province.

He said when students don't get their student aid funding for tuition, the school doesn't get paid either

"Even if we did not get the funds, I will not stop a graduation or diploma. So I graduated them. Every week I'm doing 10, 15 graduations without the funds. Honestly, we are without the funds from the last like nine months," he said. 

Student aid scam

Qureshi said he understands why the province does these reviews, and knows that some students do try to scam the student aid system.

"Some of the students honestly, they are not truly fair with their education. They are just going for the funds," he said, explaining that some students register with the school and apply for student aid and then drop out once they receive the funds. 

"That's why they are reviewing the funds, to see if the students are actually legit or not."

He suspects that there may be dozens of these cases from people who initially registered with QCT under false pretences.

But, Qureshi said while it's standard to undertake these reviews, and have students submit specific paperwork to prove they are legitimate students, those who have complied — and now the school  — are paying the price. 

'We are badly affected too'

"We are badly affected too. This is affecting the school, too. We have to give our teachers the salaries. We have to pay the rent. We have had to reduce the staff too. It's not easy," he said.

"I tried to raise my voice [to the province] for those students who already complied. They should not have these delays."

Duka said she doesn't fault the school for the situation, and has been happy they've allowed students in this predicament to carry on with their education.

"It doesn't have any control of the situation because he if we have no funds, the tuitions are not being paid," she said.

"Thankfully, the school is doing continuously their part. They didn't stop on teaching us. They're not asking us what to do next in regards to the tuition fees, they just continue on with their duty."

Reviews continue, says province

Back in April, Advanced Education, which is responsible for student aid, said these reviews were part of a standard process.

"The standard review is applied to all applications, regardless of the institution."

In an email on Tuesday, the ministry said that no one was available for an interview. 

But it said a significant increase in applications led to student aid delays, and work continues on applications under review.

"Alberta Student Aid is working to have the issues corrected and funding disbursed to eligible students as soon as possible," wrote the ministry's press secretary Taylor Hides.