• Admissions/Registration/Fees

C.3.16 Institute Fees - Youth in Care

Approved/revised: April 10, 2025

 

PURPOSE

To provide support for individuals who have grown up in the care system in British Columbia, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology shall waive tuition and mandatory fees for eligible learners. NVIT’s Youth in Care Tuition Waiver Program is open to full-time and part-time learners across all programs/courses delivered at the NVIT Merritt or Vancouver Campus.

SCOPE

For the purpose of this policy, a youth in care is defined as an individual who is a resident of British Columbia and is living or has lived as a youth in care in British Columbia under any, or a combination of, the categories as defined by the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA): 

• Continuing Custody Order pursuant to sections 41 (1) (d), 42.2 (4) (d), 42.2 (7) or 49 (4), 49 (5) or 49 (10) of the Act;

• Temporary Custody Order pursuant to sections 41 (1) (b) of the Act;
• Special Needs Agreement pursuant to section 7 of the Act;
• Voluntary Care Agreement pursuant to section 6 of the Act;
• Youth Agreement pursuant to section 6 of the Act;
• Extended Family Plan pursuant to section 8 of the Act;
• Permanent Transfer of Custody Order with person other than a parent pursuant to section 54.01 or 54.1 of the Act;
• Temporary Transfer of Custody pursuant to section 41(1)(b) of the Act;
• Interim Custody Order with a Director pursuant to section 35(2)(a);
• Interim Custody Order with person other than a parent pursuant to section 35(2)(a) of the Act;
• Adoption;
• Under the Guardianship of a Director pursuant to the Infants Act;
• Under the Guardianship of a Director of adoption under the Adoptions Act.

POLICY & PROCEDURES

• Submit a completed and signed Application for the NVIT Youth in Care Tuition Waiver Application and a Declaration and Release of Information Consent Form to an Academic and Financial Planner (advising@nvit.ca).

• Demonstrate a need for financial assistance.

• Have an offer of admission to NVIT for the upcoming semester in a program leading to the completion of a certificate, diploma or undergraduate degree, OR be a continuing learner, maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.00 each semester (2.33 for the Bachelor of Social Work program) and registered in a program leading to the completion of a certificate, diploma or undergraduate degree. Continuing Studies courses may be eligible for this waiver program if the courses are a requirement of admission or graduation (see an Academic Planner for qualified courses). 

Please note: The Registrar’s Office will review the eligibility of continuing learners at the end of each semester and will notify the learners.  When a learner has less than the minimum GPA in a semester, they have one more semester to increase their GPA. If a learner’s marks do not improve, they may be ineligible for this waiver for the upcoming semester.

 

Approved recipients do not need to reapply for this waiver each semester.

• Learners are encouraged to meet with an NVIT Academic and Financial Planner to review educational goals and preparedness. To book an appointment or for more information call toll-free at 1-877-682-3300 or book an appointment online.

APPLICATION & LIMITATIONS

• The waiver does not apply to tuition for Community Education.

• The waiver applies only to the following tuition and fees: tuition applicable to the program of study, learner activity fees, lab fees, program supply fees, UPASS BC fees, and Learner Health and Dental Fees. The learner must pay for any other expenses necessary for participation in the course, such as textbooks, supplies, theatre tickets, equipment rental, practicum travel and accommodation, etc.

• As a minimum number of tuition-paying learners are required in each program/course to enable it to be offered, NVIT reserves the right to limit the number of waivers admitted to a program/course under this policy and/or to apply the regular course fees in high-cost programs/courses.

• All refunds are subject to the Refund of Fees Policy – C.3.12.

If approved for the NVIT Youth in Care Tuition Waiver, learners will also be considered for the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF).

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY

Upon consent through the Declaration and Release of Information Consent Form, NVIT will verify each learner’s eligibility with either the Ministry of Child and Family Development, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction's Child in Home of Relative Program, or an Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency (ICFSA). If approved, learners will be contacted by NVIT to confirm eligibility and details of funding.

APPEALS

Approval for this tuition waiver is contingent upon meeting the eligibility criteria, specifically through the CFCSA categories outlined on page 1. However, NVIT recognizes that Indigenous applicants may experience unique circumstances related to their Former Youth in Care experience, in which documentation may not be available due to various reasons. In the event that the waiver is denied due to lost or misplaced records, appeals for the NVIT Youth in Care Tuition Waiver may be submitted in writing to the Registrar and the NVIT President, and sent to registrarsoffice@nvit.ca. Appellants will be informed of the decision within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the letter.

RELEVANT POLICIES

C.3.12 Refund of Fees

C.3.17 Fees and Charges for Instruction