The University of Winnipeg Tuition Waiver Fund

Students on the front lawn in front of Wesley Hall

Established in 2012 by The University of Winnipeg in collaboration with Child and Family Services and the Province of Manitoba, the youth-in-care tuition waiver initiative aims to break down educational barriers for young adults transitioning out of foster care. 

Your ongoing or one-time gift to The University of Winnipeg Tuition Waiver Fund will help us fully fund undergraduate tuition fees for current or former youth-in-care in Manitoba who have financial need. 

Donations can be made online, by payroll deduction, returning a pledge form, emailing Annual Giving Officer Elena Anciro, or by calling (204) 789-1440.  

Your gift will make a difference in the lives of promising students like Jessica F., who received the tuition waiver in 2023 and 2024.

“I never could have predicted how much my life would change thanks to university, and I have the Tuition Waiver Fund, and the kind people who contributed to it, to thank. When I registered to go to university, I was entirely uncertain on many levels. First, I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to stick with my program because I had lived below the poverty line for years. I wouldn’t have lasted past the first year if I hadn’t been accepted to the tuition waiver program. I also felt a lot of uncertainty with my abilities. I hadn’t been in school for a while, and I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to maintain sufficient grades due to my disability. However, the gift of being supported through school was enough to boost my morale and encourage me to give it my all. I currently have a GPA of 3.88, which I know is due to the passion for learning I have acquired at university. It is an absolute gift to have the opportunity to show myself that I am capable of achieving worthwhile endeavours if I apply myself fully. I feel this discovery will be ingrained in me for the rest of my life.

The confidence I have gained because of university has been nothing short of a miracle. I have anxiety and bipolar disorder, and while the latter has stabilized for the most part, the former impacts my daily life. However, my goal of earning a BA in English helps me focus my attention in a positive direction. I love learning about the craft of writing, and developing my own ability to write. I feel these skills will serve me well in many job positions, as well as support my desire to write a book.

In 2023 I won the Writers Circle Award for a linked collection of prose poetry called “The Avalanche Phenomenon;” which details some of my experiences with bipolar disorder. It is incredible that I have been taught how to turn horrors into art; how to process events by reframing them.

I tell my story in the hopes that there will be many others after me with success stories of their own. It is difficult to know the impact of what giving a person a second chance can have on the world. But I like to think that even if it touches only one life, it is all the same worthwhile.”

Tuition waivers were pioneered at The University of Winnipeg, prompting other universities and colleges in Manitoba and across Canada to join and replicate this life changing initiative. The University of Winnipeg is the largest tuition waiver sponsor in Manitoba with 30 students supported each year and highlights the University’s dedication to making education accessible for all. 

Thank you for supporting The University of Winnipeg Tuition Waiver Fund and the 2024 Campus Campaign!