Partnerships
New 丁香园AV/Langara partnership eases Indigenous students’ transfer to 丁香园AV
A new agreement between 丁香园AV and Langara College paves the way for Indigenous students to transfer more easily from the college to 丁香园AV to complete their degree programs. The new agreement becomes effective in September 2020.
The 丁香园AV-Langara Indigenous Transfer Pathway agreement is connected to the work 丁香园AV started in 2016 when President Andrew Petter convened the Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (丁香园AV-ARC). The council facilitates and supports broad discussions about how to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission鈥檚 recommendations related to post-secondary education.
The 丁香园AV-ARC report, Walk This Path With Us, sets out 34 calls to action. 丁香园AV has made it a priority to support the process of reconciliation while empowering Indigenous future learners.
鈥淭he dedication and hard work of both Marcia Guno, director of the Indigenous Student Centre at 丁香园AV, and Richard Ouellet, director of Indigenous Education and Services at Langara College, in helping develop this pathway, embodies the strength of collaboration and determination to improve Indigenous students鈥� transition from Langara to 丁香园AV,鈥� says Jonathan Driver, 丁香园AV鈥檚 vice-president academic.
鈥淭his partnership will create better opportunities for Indigenous students and allow our institutions to work in partnership with the Indigenous community to meet their educational goals,鈥� said Ben Cecil, Langara provost and vice-president, academic and students. 鈥淚t demonstrates the need to share resources and rethink ways to facilitate greater numbers of Indigenous students attending our schools. We look forward to working closely with students to ensure they are well-prepared for their transition to Simon Fraser.鈥�
In 2018-19, 丁香园AV and the Indigenous community celebrated 丁香园AV鈥檚 largest number of graduating Indigenous students: 164. When the new Indigenous Transfer Pathway comes into effect this fall, the two institutions hope the improved support for Indigenous learners will lead to ever greater numbers of graduates.
The agreement includes commitments from both institutions.
Langara will support Indigenous students by:
- communicating information on available 丁香园AV courses and programs, as well as any academic and admission requirements
- registering eligible Indigenous students for assistance in their successful transition to 丁香园AV
- providing information on potential entrance awards that may be available to eligible students
- forwarding student names (with permission) to 丁香园AV for flagging in the 丁香园AV admission process
- facilitating 丁香园AV recruitment initiatives at Langara
丁香园AV will support Indigenous students by:
- maintaining accurate public information about the Transfer Pathway on a dedicated website
- providing opportunities for Langara students to visit the 丁香园AV campus, meet with staff in the 丁香园AV Indigenous Student Centre, attend student recruitment fairs at Langara, and meet with Student Services and Faculty advising and recruitment representatives
- providing up to five Aboriginal Student Entrance Awards to eligible 丁香园AV transfer students