Special to the Ryersonian
Canadian varsity athletes received $5,272,031 in awards for the 2004-2005 academic year, according to newly released data by Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The figures were made public by the umbrella organization of all provincial and regional sports associations puts the University of Regina at the top, with almost a half-million dollars provided to its athletes. Ryerson ranks 38 out of the 49 universities surveyed, with awards totaling $23,500.
When comparing funding per athlete, Cape Breton University provides the most money per student with $2,509. Ryerson ranks 32 with an average of $204 per athlete. Ryerson has 18 athletic awards – 14 awards worth $1,000 each for anyone with a B average and four awards of $1,500 for those who have a GPA of 3.5 or better. Coca-Cola finances 80 per cent of the awards. This year, the company has $25,000 in its pool, said Terry Haggerty, manager of CIS. He said Ryerson is reviewing what it offers. He wants more athletes to benefit from the awards since last year, the school was able to help only 18 out of the 170 student athletes at
Ryerson.
"We want to give money to more qualified people. We have more applications than we have awards for. That's an area of concern. We know we have to get more awards and we have to up our limit," Haggerty said. And he said people don't realize there is a lot of academic money available to athletes.
"I think . . . most people across the country don't understand just how much money student athletes can get by just being good students," he said. But men's volleyball player Ryan Vandenburg says financial support for sport achievement alone is still lacking.
"We do have certain awards based on marks and that has helped if you have the grades, but if you don't there is not much offered exclusively to athletes, he said. An Ontario student athlete can receive bursaries and awards from their respective university and from Ontario University Athletics (OUA). CIS does not provide direct funding to athletes but establishes guidelines for its members.
The organization stipulates the maximum funds an athlete can receive is the cost of tuition and ancillary fees. Students must turn to the traditional OSAP, general tuition bursaries and entrance scholarships if they need more money.
Financial assistance through OUA is tied to academics. Ontario universities have agreed to a limit of $3,500 per student, up from $2,500 a year ago. Continuing students with a B average are eligible for funding.
Effective September 2007, entering students with an 80 per cent average will also be considered. Although players on CIS teams are given priority, other athletes are not overlooked, said Haggerty.
"Every year we do try to make sure someone in badminton, fencing, figure skating and rowing have an award," he said. But fencer and PhD student Liang Liao said as far as the fencing team is concerned, Ryerson doesn't provide enough support, even when it comes to funding competitions.
"Before the OUA finals, we need lots of tournament competition experience. Last year we only got three chances to compete in some open tournament before the OUA finals," he said. "I think if we can have more competitive experience, we could be better."
