Situation:
The Peter A. Allard School of Law was seeking creative solutions to supplement the School’s student financial aid program. The Law School engaged the Strategy and Decision Support team to assess the feasibility of establishing a post-graduation debt repayment assistance program.
Our Actions:
- Developed a conceptual framework and associated principles to inform the new student financial aid offering, ensuring access to those demonstrating the greatest need for financial support
- Created a robust assessment mechanism underpinning the program, based on individual needs and adjusted to local circumstances
- Conducted financial modelling of year-over-year program costs and projected student impact
- Assisted the Peter A. Allard School of Law in policy development, implementation, and identification of resourcing requirements
Results:
- Peter A. Allard School of Law has implemented a pilot for the Post-Graduation Debt Repayment Assistance (PGDRA) program, available to JD graduates of the Class of 2020 and onward
- This innovative program, the first of its kind in Western Canada, will ensure that Allard Law JD students and recent graduates make career choices free from debt-induced pressure
"SDS fully supported the law school throughout the process with the highest level of professional service. SDS often went above and beyond what I would have expected in their work, and were always ready and willing to assist as the project unfolded. Their analysis and modelling work, and careful attention to detail, are no small part of the success in setting up this new and ambitious program. In addition, the SDS team fit flexibly and seamlessly into a cross-department collaborative working group."
-Jeremy Schmidt, Director Dean's Office, Allard School of Law