Student Awards Policy

Approver:: Academic Coordinating Committee
Policy Owner:: Vice-President, Academic
Policy Lead(s):: Executive Director, Registrarial Services
Effective date:: 2009-10-01
Date of last approval:: 2024-10-23

Policy Statement

Conestoga celebrates excellence, by bestowing upon students, awards as a means of recognition to encourage high levels of academic achievement, resilience, and leadership. Awards and other forms of recognition are provided exclusively for students entering, registered in, and/or graduating from a program at Conestoga.

Scope

This policy governs awards, scholarships, prizes, academic grants, bursaries and other forms of recognition at Conestoga College.

Definitions

Conestoga College maintains a glossary of terms specific to the institution. The terms in use for this document are defined below.

Academic Grants: Academic Grants are monetary awards based on a combination of merit and financial need. A student may receive an Academic Grant in addition to any other scholarships, prizes, or bursaries for which they are eligible.
Bursaries: Bursaries are monetary awards based on financial need as determined by Conestoga, and may also include a minimum expectation of academic achievement or other miscellaneous criteria.
Entrance Awards: Awards granted to students who attain a high admission average and meet the criteria for the award.
Good Standing: Students are deemed to be in good standing when applying for an award, provided that they are passing all courses, are not on academic probation, or have not been discontinued due to academic performance. In addition, they must not have received a penalty under the Academic Integrity Policy.
Graduand Awards: are granted to students who are graduating and meet the criteria for the award.
In-course Awards: Awards granted to students currently enrolled in a program at Conestoga and meet the criteria for the award.
James W. Church Award: Recognizes a student who excels in the three areas deemed by Dr. Church to be important for a person to become all that they are capable of being. It is open to full-time students who are in their graduating year of an Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree, or Ontario College Graduate Certificate who have obtained a program GPA of 3.75. The award is presented annually at convocation.
Mastercraft Award: Recognizes student achievement of excellence in program-related skills. Participating students must be registered as part-time or full-time in an Ontario College Certificate, Ontario College Graduate Certificate, Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, or Degree program. To qualify for final judging, entries must first be selected as winners at the program level.
Prizes: Prizes are monetary awards and/or awards of monetary worth (e.g. book, medal) normally granted for academic excellence in a particular academic area and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit. Prizes may have a specified value in terms of monetary benefit to the recipient.
Scholarships: Scholarships are monetary awards based on academic excellence and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit. Scholarships have a specified value in terms of monetary benefit to the recipient. Scholarship categories include, but are not limited to, entrance, in-course, part-time, and graduand.

Policy

Awards and other forms of recognition criteria are considered based on factors such as:

Academic performance using admissions, term, cumulative, or graduation averages.
Academic performance in a particular program, course, or project (applied or research) using cumulative or term average or course grade.
Achievement in a skill related to the student's academic area in addition to attaining minimum academic requirements.
Non-academic achievements or the display of other qualities deemed worthy of consideration by Conestoga or a School.
Demonstrated financial need as described in the terms and conditions.

Student awards must adhere to the following criteria:

Terms and conditions should ensure equity in competition and distribution.
Terms and conditions of student awards must conform to the Ontario Human Rights Code policy on Scholarships and Awards.

Granting of Awards:

The Vice-President, Academic or designate shall approve the granting of awards upon the recommendation of relevant Conestoga officials through the Student Financial Services office.
For Student Awards that require a selection committee, the committee must apply the terms of the award and committee members must declare any conflicts of interest.
While a donor may, with the approval of Conestoga, participate in the selection process, the final choice of recipients shall reside with the College.

Relevant Legislation and Related Documents

Relevant legislation

Ontario Human Rights Codes Policy on Scholarships and Awards

Revision Log

Date	Details
2009-09-30	Policy and Procedure Committee - Approved
2009-10-21	Academic Coordinating Committee – Approved
2015-10-20	Amended definition of Good Standing; updated titles
2024-10-16	Academic Forum
2024-10-23	Academic Coordinating Committee