Queen's University will receive $398,300 from the province to
develop programs and services for Aboriginal people, Gary Wilson
MPP for Kingston and the Islands announced today. Mr Wilson made
the announcement on behalf of Dave Cooke, Minister of Education and
Training.
The money for the projects, which comes from the province's
Aboriginal Education and Training Strategy, will help postsecondary
institutions develop new programs and maintain programs previously
approved under the strategy.
"Queen's has worked hard to establish the partnerships with
Aboriginal communities and organizations in the region," said Mr
Wilson. "Through this important collaboration we've been able to
develop programs and services that are helping to increase the
participation and completion rates of Aboriginal students in the
postsecondary system."
Queen's will use the majority of the money to fund three projects
related to the University's Aboriginal Teacher Education Program.
Funds will be used to develop the delivery of the teacher education
program to Aboriginal students in the James Bay and Georgian Bay
areas. Through these programs Aboriginal students will be able to
complete the requirements needed to obtain an Ontario Teaching
Certificate while remaining in their home community.
A portion of the money will be used by the University to hire an
Aboriginal Student Counsellor to provide support services to
Aboriginal students. Funds will also be used to develop and
deliver programs and materials to Aboriginal students about
university education. In addition, Queen's will receive funding
that will help off-set the costs associated with the delivery of
these programs.
"This support from Government recognizes several important
initiatives in the university's Aboriginal Council," said Queen's
Principal David Smith. "Increasing the participation of Aboriginal
students is a key objective and this funding makes it possible to
extend our programs beyond Kingston, throughout Ontario, and
particularly to the areas of Manitoulin - North Shore and Moose
Factory."
Colleges and universities seeking funding under the strategy must
first establish a committee with significant membership from the
local Aboriginal groups. This committee oversees the development
of proposals submitted for funding and is responsible for
addressing broader institutional issues related to the post
secondary education of Aboriginal people.
Representatives from Aboriginal organizations also form a majority
of voting members on the province's Proposal Selection Committee.
The committee's membership includes representation from the
province's postsecondary institutions, the Ontario Council on
University Affairs, the Council of Regents of Colleges of Applied
Arts and Technology, and the Ministry of Education and Training.
It is co-chaired by Ruth Baxter of the Nishnawbe-Aski nation and
Merle Pegahmagabow of the Union of Ontario Indians.
Queen's University is among 22 postsecondary institutions receiving
$5.8 million in funding through the Aboriginal Education and
Training Strategy this year.
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For further information contact:
Frances Lamb Jackie Creber
Senior Policy Analyst Senior Policy Analyst
Student Affairs Team Student Affairs Team
(416)325-2876 (416)325-2891
Version francais disponible.
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