Unlocking potential
Our supporters believe that education can transform lives, giving students the chance to develop into knowledgeable, engaged and active citizens who enrich the communities we live in. But the opportunities to take part in postsecondary education aren’t equal for all. By giving to Sheridan, our supporters help us remove financial and social barriers that can impede access to higher learning, and reveal the unlimited potential of each of our learners.
Donor support that went directly to racialized students in the 2021-22 academic year.
Number of racialized students supported last year through funding from tuition fees, earmarked for student support.
Up to 125
Work Study positions for international students being created.
Sheridan Student Union makes landmark gifts in support of student financial need and wellness
No one knows how challenging learning throughout the pandemic has been like the students themselves. That’s why the Sheridan Student Union (SSU) has stepped up to support its peers. Throughout 2021, the SSU made several landmark gifts that offer students financial assistance and make an investment in their wellness. In August, SSU made their largest contribution to support scholarships and bursaries to date: $250,000 that will be targeted directly as financial aid to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and social inequality. Through their generosity, the SSU created a series of scholarships and bursaries, including scholarships that cover full tuition fees for two students with a GPA of 3.8 or higher. The SSU created additional bursaries and awards to support students, with a particular focus on creating awards for Black, Indigenous and racialized students, as well as those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. SSU President Kyle Budge says the motivation for the gift was simple: to support fellow students in the most meaningful way possible.
“Creating scholarships and bursaries was really the best way to get money directly back into students’ hands, to give them what they needed for schooling, for housing, for food – a whole range of different things that that they need support for."
— Kyle Budge, SSU President
Students who received full scholarships
Nashad Hakim
A third-year student in the Honours Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences (Information Systems Security), Hakim received one of the first SSU Scholarships to cover the cost of his tuition for a full year. He came to Sheridan to study because he was looking for a career change, but returning to full-time school has plenty of challenges, and he found himself trying to maintain his studies and his financial obligations, a task made more difficult during the pandemic.
“As a mature student with financial commitments, I was faced with the dilemma of leaving my full-time job to pursue my interest. I was looking to change careers and thought that information security would be an exciting and rewarding field … The financial assistance provided allowed me to excel both academically and in my extracurricular endeavours.”
Amir Sadeghi
In the final year of the Social Service Worker program, Sadeghi specializes in working with older adults. Throughout his time at Sheridan, he’s taken on leadership roles including as a peer mentor and in research at the Centre for Elder Research and the Office of Inclusive Communities.
“Sheridan has been extremely rewarding and productive. Sheridan has expanded my knowledge and recognition for the less fortunate and underrepresented social groups and I plan to further my education towards a master’s degree around social work.”
SSU gifts by the numbers
In total, $12,188 was awarded for SSU Scholarships.
SSU Bursaries
In Fall 2021, 93 students were awarded $55,000 in bursaries. Another $55,000 was distributed to 71 students in need in Winter 2022.
In the Fall and Winter terms, $22,000 was awarded to support students who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.
$22,000 was awarded to Black, Indigenous and racialized students as part of the Diversity in Education Awards.
Supporting student health
In recognition of the need to support students in many different aspects of their wellness, SSU has also made a gift of $430,000 to support two health promotion specialists. These unique professionals develop programming that ensures a holistic focus on wellness at every stage of a student’s journey at Sheridan – from the moment they accept their offer to attend, through their pivotal first year and then right up until graduation.
Sheridan and ScotiaRISE partner to expand work opportunities for international students
Every year, approximately 1,500 Sheridan students participate in Work Study – a program that offers students paid, on-campus employment that give them the skills and competencies needed to launch their careers.
For international students, Work Study also gives them the opportunity to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Over the past few years, Sheridan has piloted the program to international students. Thanks to a $250,000 gift from Scotiabank in early 2022, we’ll be able to expand and create up to 125 more positions for international students over the next two years.
Social Service Worker – Gerontology student Rajni Sharma took part in Work Study as a research assistant, examining the educational content related to dementia for members of the South Asian community. She says the opportunity allowed her to put what she learns in the classroom directly into practice, while also providing financial support.
“A Work Study position is not only a source of income for students to be able to pay for their expenses, but it also gives them experience in their own field by teaching professional skills and other competencies.”
— Rajni Sharma, Social Service Worker - Gerontology student
NBCUniversal partnership opens the door to diverse voices in film and television
A future where diverse stories are woven into mainstream media is imperative. Thanks to NBCUniversal, Sheridan is now able to support these storytellers with mentorship, bursaries and grants for Black, Indigenous and racialized students in the Honours Bachelor of Film and Television program.
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
Last year, Sheridan became Ontario’s first institution to sign the SDG Accord, the postsecondary sector’s collective international response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals . These 17 Global Goals were adopted by countries around the world in 2015 as a means to guide global action on the urgent social, economic and environmental challenges facing our planet. Which goals do the stories on this page advance? See below.
