Monday, July 25, 2005

Alberta offers online service for student loan applicants

Alberta is introducing an online system for applying for student loans and other financial assistance:

Camrose Canadian, Camrose, AB

"Students can apply on-line
Application procedure streamlined

Amanda Kuttnick-Dyer, Staff Reporter
Sunday July 24, 2005

Camrose Canadian — Post-secondary students will be able to access a wealth of financial assistance and resources this fall.

Alberta students will be able to complete an on-line application for student loans, grants and bursaries giving them access to a greater range of faster, more flexible and user friendly, electronic services through a new electronic application system.

The new system allows post-secondary students to apply on-line for financial assistance, and have their application processed instantaneously and now immediately how much they will be receiving. Full-time students attending private vocational institutions can also use this new system.

Electronic

The system will also provide post-secondary institutions with the ability to electronically notify the finance departments of student registration. The idea is to reduce lineups, as the institutions will no longer have to approve student federal or provincial loan certificates.

It’s expected that this new process will assist in the processing of 45,000 full time applications. In a single day between 2,000 and 3,000 students will assessed.

To access the system, all students will be required to input an Alberta Student Number, a Social Insurance Number and some standard personal information. Additional input requirements differ for first time students and returning students. For more information on access and requirements, visit www.alis.gov.ab.ca/studentsfinance/eap/main.asp or call 1-800-222-6485."

Sounds like a good idea, but it reminds me too much of various incidents I've read about in the last little while, such as this one: The Canadian Privacy Law Blog: Inicdent: hacker may have read applicant files at University of Southern California.

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