University efforts to support those impacted by Ukraine invasion

Canada’s universities have demonstrated their solidarity with all those impacted by the invasion of Ukraine, making concerted efforts to support all faculty, staff and students affected by these disturbing events. The following is a selection of initiatives and resources provided by Canadian universities to support their communities at this difficult time.

Alberta

Athabasca University

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services

MacEwan University

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services
• Ukraine information and support forum

Mount Royal University

• Statement
• Hosting 100 Ukrainian refugees at its residences
• Health and wellness services

University of Alberta

• President’s statement
• Emergency Support Fund
• Waiving tuition costs for Ukrainian international students affected by Russian invasion
• Ukrainian humanitarian relief concert
• Wellness, financial and other supports
• Statements from the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies

University of Calgary

• President’s statement
• International Student Conflict Support Fund helps international students who face an unexpected financial burden due to conflict in their home country
• International Graduate Student Crisis Support Scholarship supports incoming master’s and doctoral students who have been forced to leave their home countries to escape war, violations of human rights, conflict or persecution
• Students’ Greatest Need Fund helps students who find themselves in crisis situations where they cannot afford necessities
• Health and wellness services
• Emergency financial assistance

University of Lethbridge

• Statement
• Counselling services

British Columbia

Capilano University

• President’s statement
• Counselling services

Emily Carr University of Art + Design

• President’s statement
• Counselling services

Royal Roads University

• President’s statement
• Hatley Castle lit in yellow and blue

Simon Fraser University

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services
• Philosophy Department’s Ukraine humanitarian crisis appeal

Thompson Rivers University

• President’s statement
• Rally to support Ukraine
• Weekly “Space for Connection” program offers a safe place for students to support each other and participate in community healing
• Providing resources for counselling services and individual support by Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking advisors
• TRU World Relief Fund created to support students impacted by war in Ukraine. TRU World establishing emergency matching fund of $100,000 to match donations. TRU Foundation donating $5,000 and matching donations up to another $5,000. So far, $20,000 has been allocated to students with need.
• Plan to create full scholarships for Ukranian refugees
• Special “Perogies for Healing” event brought together Ukranian, Russian and other students in the spirit of solidarity and support

Vancouver Island University

• President’s statement
• Wellness, financial and other supports

Trinity Western University

• President’s statement
• Travel, wellness and other supports

University of British Columbia (The)

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services
• UBC Student Assistance Program

University of Northern British Columbia

• President’s statement

University of the Fraser Valley

• President’s statement
• Panel on Russia-Ukraine conflict

University of Victoria

• President’s statement
• Health, wellness and support services

Manitoba

Brandon University

• Statement
• Counselling services
• March to support Ukraine
• Crisis in Ukraine forum

Canadian Mennonite University

• President’s statement
• Counselling services
• Temporarily accepting unofficial transcripts from applicants impacted by the war in Ukraine
• Waiving application fees for applicants from the Ukraine

University of Manitoba

• President’s statement
• Pledging $1 million to its Emergency Bursaries Fund to support students in financial distress due to the war in Ukraine and other extraordinary life events
• Committed $1.755 million to support Ukrainian scholars and students impacted by the war to continue their work or studies at the University of Manitoba
• Waiving application fees for international students who are Ukranian citizens
• Providing Ukrainian students with research internships and awards for books, tuition, supplies and other fees
• Supports for students and employees impacted by the invasion of Ukraine
• Ukranian National Federation fundraiser
• Winter term fee extensions and deferrals
• Expanded supports, working group to identify further support needs
• Raising Ukranian flag in solidarity
• Wellness, financial and other supports

University of Winnipeg (The)

• President’s statement
• Matching contributions to the Vasyl (Bill) Balan International Students from Ukraine Bursary up to a total contribution of $25,000
• Counselling and health and wellness services

New Brunswick

Mount Allison University

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services

St. Thomas University

• Launched free tuition program to support up to ten students from international conflict zones

Université de Moncton

• Launched fundraising campaign for Ukraine (university matching donations up to $10,000, donate here)
• Raising Ukranian flags on all three campuses
• Student health and wellness services at Edmundston, Moncton and Shippagan campuses
• Employee health and wellness services at Edmundston, Moncton and Shippagan campuses
• Roundtable: Legal insights into the war in Ukraine
• Roundtable: Is the future of the liberal international order being decided in Ukraine?

Nova Scotia

Acadia University

• President’s statement
• International differential fee is waived for refugee students
• International Student Support Fund (university matching donations up to $50,000)

Cape Breton University

• President’s statement
• Mental health resources

Dalhousie University

• President’s statement
• Waiving application fees and offering increased flexibility with payment deadlines and options
• Expediting the processing of applications from students from Ukraine and surrounding countries
• Providing special consideration for Ukranian students in university’s scholarship/financial aid pool and designating a percentage of awards to Ukranian students at risk
• Ukranian flag raised on Halifax (Studley) and Truro campuses
• Campus vigil, Prayers for Peace, in honour of Ukraine
• Co-hosted The Conflict in Ukraine: A Forum
• Statement by Dalhousie’s Department of Russian Studies
• Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security (hosted by Dalhousie University) providing advice to Canadian Armed Forces and National Defence on the need for preparation and training on interacting with children in the context of Ukraine as well as participating in programming for local schools on how to discuss the Ukranian war with children
• Dalhousie experts inform and educate on the conflict: “Dal experts share insights on what Putin’s invasion means for the region and world”; “War and peace in Ukraine”; “How citizenship and race play out in refugees’ movements in Europe”; “Don’t use children to further violence and division”
• Health and wellness services
• International student supports

Mount Saint Vincent University

• President’s statement
• Counselling services

Saint Mary’s University

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services

St. Francis Xavier University

• Art Department fundraiser for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine
• We Stand With Ukraine virtual ceremony and flag raising
• Panel discussion: Contextualizing the invasion of Ukraine

University of King’s College

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services

Newfoundland and Labrador

Memorial University of Newfoundland

• President’s statement
• Waiving undergraduate application fee for Ukranian citizens and students of other nationalities whose studies have been disrupted in Ukraine
• Providing bursaries valued at $7,500 to up to 10 undergraduate students from Ukraine
• Health and wellness services for students and staff
• Info session on special immigration measures for Ukranian Nationals
• Event: Making sense of the war in Ukraine

Ontario

Algoma University

• Statement

Brock University

• President’s statement
• Emergency student loans & bursaries
• Student Emergency Fund
• Schmon Tower illuminated in blue and yellow
• Event highlighting Ukranian relief organizations

Carleton University

• President’s statement
• Resources for Ukranian students and staff

King’s University College at Western University

• Ukraine Conflict Emergency Fund

McMaster University

• Wellness, financial and other supports
• Pledged $800,000 to support forcibly displaced students, scholars and researchers
• Ukraine-Russia crisis support session
• Information booth on campus
• Ukranian student voices
• Illuminating campus in blue and yellow
• Academics provide insight on conflict

Queen’s University

• Principal’s statement
• Launching Principal’s Global Scholars and Fellows Program for those affected by war, conflict and political instability
• Wellness, financial and other supports

Toronto Metropolitan University

• President’s statement
• Support for students and community members affected by the Ukraine crisis
• Faculty Working Group on Supporting those Impacted by the War in Ukraine developed resources, news and expert opinions to support community members and educate about the conflict
• Health and wellness services

Trent University

• Statement and information
• Fundraising campaign through the Trent Fund
• Health and wellness services

University of Guelph

• Statement
• Formed partnership with Dnipro State Agrarian University in Ukraine to help students and faculty to continue their learning, work and research
• Vigil in support of the people of Ukraine
• Counselling services and other supports

University of Ottawa

• University of Ottawa support for U7+ Alliance statement on Ukraine
• Health and wellness services
• Financial supports including for financial crisis
• Immigration and other support services for international students
• Admission fee exemption and prioritized support for prospective Ukrainian students

University of St. Michael’s College

• Statement and information
• Prayer for Ukraine
• Health and wellness resources

University of Toronto

• President’s statement
• Emergency Grants program
• Tuition and mental health support for students affected by the war in Ukraine
• Campus chaplains are holding weekly drop-in grief support circles
• Health and Wellness is holding monthly grief support sharing circles in partnership with the Multi-Faith Centre
• My Student Support Program (SSP)
• Scholars-at-Risk program supports qualified students coming to the university as a result of the conflict (university matching donations up to $1 million, donations accepted here)

University of Trinity College

• Student supports

University of Waterloo

• President’s statement and resources
• Supports for affected students, staff and faculty

University of Windsor

• Supports for campus community members impacted by the war in Ukraine

Western University

• Statement and resources
• Extended supports for those affected by war in Ukraine
• Ivey Business School offering displaced Ukranian students free access to MBA program
• Ivey Business School offering ten displaced Ukranian students free access to MBA program (potential investment of more than $1 million)
• Investing $600,000 in direct financial support for students and scholars facing disruption and displacement due to conflict or war in their home countries
• Providing support for three new displaced scholars to come to Western through the international Scholars at Risk network
• Launching fundraising campaign and Student Crisis Relief Fund
• New six to 12-month research opportunities available to students displaced by global crises
• Health and wellness supports
• Flexibility in tuition payment deadlines and other support for displaced students and scholars

Wilfrid Laurier University

• President’s statement
• Supports for those affected by conflict in Ukraine
• Mental health resources

York University

• President’s statement

Prince Edward Island

University of Prince Edward Island

• President’s statement
• Health and wellness services

Québec

Bishop’s University

• Principal’s statement
• Fundraiser in support of Ukrainian students
• Donations of physical supplies for Ukraine

Concordia University

• President’s statement
• Supports for students, staff and faculty
• Community efforts to help Ukranian refugees

McGill University

• Principal’s statement
• Offering financial support and academic accommodations to those who require it
• Accepting late applications and transfers related to the crisis in Ukraine
• Accelerating admissions for graduate applicants from Ukraine
• Providing opportunities for graduate research traineeships for displaced students currently enrolled in a Ukrainian university
• Health and wellness services
• Virtual training to support Ukrainian healthcare workers
• Donation collection for Ukranian refugees led by Desautels Faculty of Management

Université de Montréal

• President’s statement
• Illuminating the Roger-Gaudry pavilion in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine
• Member and supporter of Scholars at Risk
• Fundraiser in support of university members impacted by humanitarian crises
• Initiative in support of mathematicians in distress due to war, oppression and persecution
• Health and wellness services

Université de Sherbrooke

• Established emergency fund to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine
• Supporting Ukrainian people who wish to study in, immigrate to or visit Canada (i.e. expedited application processing and help identifying sources of income or financial aid)

Université Laval

• President’s statement

Université du Québec

• Statement and information

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

• Statement and information
• Health and wellness services

Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)

• Conference and roundtable on Ukraine conflict

Saskatchewan

University of Regina

• President’s statement

University of Saskatchewan

• President’s statement
• Wellness resources
• Fundraiser to support Ukranians in crisis

Other

• Science for Ukraine: Canadian universities are providing fellowships, placements and other opportunities for Ukrainian graduate students and researchers

This page was last updated on July 25, 2022.

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