Staff Report: Royal Roads/Langford Education Fund

BACKGROUND:

The City of Langford and Royal Roads University (RRU) have entered to a scholarship/gift agreement (attached) to provide $375,000 over five years to assist students attend the new campus in Langford. As part of the scholarship agreement, the City and RRU agreed to finalize the criteria for determining who will be eligible to receive a scholarship, how the money will be split between the four institutions at the Langford campus, and how the funding will integrate with the existing scholarship programs each institution manages.

COMMENTARY:

RRU has prepared the attached briefing note in discussions with City staff, and staff are in support of the recommendations contained within the briefing note.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

Through the scholarship/gift agreement, the City will provide RRU with $375,000 over five years. This agreement has already been approved (this report is about approving the scholarship criteria).

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

OPTIONS:

Option 1

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommends that Council:

1. That Royal Roads University allocate and disburse the annual $75,000 pledge payment from City of Langford per the Gift Agreement to each partnering post-secondary institution (Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, Camosun College, Justice Institute of BC) proportionately to their projected annual student enrolment numbers to programs available at the RRU Langford Campus.

AND

2. That the Langford Education Awards eligibility criteria focus on students who: a. Are 26 years or younger.
   b. Have graduated from a high school in School District 62 and reside in the City of Langford.
   c. Are enrolled and are entering a Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, Camosun College, and/or Justice Institute of British Columbia program offered at the Royal Roads University Langford campus.
   d. Have demonstrated reasonable financial need.

AND

3. And that preference be given to students who self-identify as belonging to an under-represented group, including but not limited to: Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, neuro-diverse, persons living with a visible or invisible disability, youth from care, and/or first in family to attend post-secondary; or lived in Langford when graduated high school.

AND

That the funds available provide student entrance awards with a maximum value of $10,000 to students as long as funds are available.

OR Option 2

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommends to Council an alternative approach to the scholarship eligibility criteria.

SUBMITTED BY:

Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence:
Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events
Concurrence:
Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
Concurrence:
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision
Concurrence:
Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Concurrence:
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
Concurrence:
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments

• 20230627 – RRU Briefing Notes