N.W.T. student in catch-22, unable to access financial assistance to pay student fees

William Parrell is stuck in a catch-22 involving two institutions that he says are putting process above people, while his education and livelihood hang in the balance. 

Parrell, an N.W.T. student at the University of Calgary, needs student financial assistance to pay his student fees. However, the N.W.T.'s student financial assistance (SFA) program requires an official transcript from the school to release his funds, while the University of Calgary won't release the transcript until it's been paid. 

"I've begged them," he said, "but both bureaucrats are saying, 'that's our policy.'"

Parrell applied late to the SFA, submitting his application about 18 days after the June 30 deadline. As a result he didn't get a response until mid-October. At that point, the program provided Parrell's first month of funds but said it couldn't release the rest without Parrell's official transcript. 

But Parrell's student fees — about $8,000 — were due on Sept. 20 and when he couldn't pay them, the university put his account on hold, which means he can't access his official transcript. 

In an emailed statement, the University of Calgary said it does not release official transcripts to students who are not in good financial standing. It can provide unofficial transcripts, and confirmation-of-enrolment letters. 

Parrell has submitted both those documents, along with others, to SFA but the N.W.T. program says it needs the official transcript to ensure the student meets their requirements. 

"Without an official transcript, it's difficult to assess the student's eligibility for funding," a spokesperson for the territory's department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) said in an email. 

What's at stake

Parrell, a philosophy student, hopes to continue his education to become a lawyer and eventually move back to the North. But if he can't pay his school fees, he'll have to drop out and return home to work off his debt. 

"That's a possibility that I really don't want to be true," he said. 

Betty Parrell, William's mother, says the whole family is feeling the stress. She says she's been helping him get by to this point but she's not able to contribute the $8,000 he owes.

"It wouldn't have been a question but he actually is dependent on that student financial assistance," she said.

Betty says she appreciates the importance of paperwork but with the slew of other documents her son provided — excluding the official transcript — she says it's clear he's a student and the territory should release the funds. 

"They have the power to do that and there's no reason why they shouldn't," she said. 

The territory has been proactive in recent years about supporting residents on mental health resources, but she says her son's situation flies in the face of that. 

"When process trumps people, it's always sad," she said.

Remaining avenues

William Parrell says he's struggled to get in touch with his case manager at the SFA program. He's tried calling down the list of employees through the government directory and left voicemails with the department. 

Betty has also emailed the education minister directly pleading for help. She never got a response. 

The ECE spokesperson told CBC News that SFA has standards in place and that if an individual feels they're not being met, they can submit a client concern form. 

Asked if that's an avenue they'll pursue, William and Betty said it's the first they've heard of the form. 

William says his next step is to go to the student union and ask if it would loan him the money.

He says the past months have been incredibly stressful and that his mental health has suffered, between the funding saga and the regular stress of studying, cooking and taking care of himself. 

"It shouldn't be this difficult to access services that are supposed to be able to help you," he said.

"And when there are problems, you shouldn't be dogmatic about your policies when they're causing more harm than good."