The Department of Education announced Sept. 3 that Nunavut Inuit Study Grant benefits under FANS will include a transitional allowance, holiday travel, school-supply and living-situation support, a furniture allowance, mandatory exam fees, tutoring, recreation or activity support, health and wellness support, and a transitional support person. The department described the change as being introduced “this autumn.” ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The change could reduce some of the extra costs Inuit students face while starting or continuing post-secondary studies, especially when moving, setting up housing or paying for required school supports. However, students cannot yet tell from the public announcement how much each benefit is worth or whether any separate request, receipt or approval will be required.

Eligible students should check their FANS approval information and contact the FANS office for confirmation of which supports are available and how they are paid. The current FANS page says students must reapply each academic year and generally must apply at least eight weeks before their program ends. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The current FANS page says general eligibility includes Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, at least 12 months of Nunavut residency before applying, and enrolment in a designated post-secondary program of at least 12 weeks. The Sept. 3 notice specifically limits the newly announced Nunavut Inuit Study Grant supports to Inuit students enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement. The department’s linked public-service-announcement document could not be technically retrieved for independent review, and the web pages reviewed do not publish dollar amounts, an exact implementation date, payment procedures or detailed rules for the nine listed supports.