University of Regina taking new steps to support Aboriginal student success

News Release Release Date: October 20, 2011 12:00 p.m.

A new chapter began this week at the University of Regina when the University's Aboriginal Advisory Circle met for the first time. The Advisory Circle was established this fall to help address the challenges Aboriginal students face while pursuing post-secondary education, and identify solutions to help ensure the campus is dedicated to and focused on meeting Aboriginal student needs. The Advisory Circle is comprised of Aboriginal faculty and staff who will provide recommendations directly to the President.

"The timing of this initiative could not be better," says President and Vice-Chancellor, Vianne Timmons. "For this academic year, the University of Regina has recorded our highest increase of first-term enrolment for self-declared Aboriginal students.  This is a positive development, but we must work to maintain this momentum, and the Aboriginal Advisory Circle will be critical to that effort."

Statistics indicate a year-over year increase of 48 per cent in the number of first-year self-declared Aboriginal students registered at the University.  As a result, students of Aboriginal descent now represent close to 10 per cent of the University's total undergraduate enrolment of approximately 11,000 students.

"We are committed to reaching the goals within the University of Regina's strategic plan, mâmawohkamâtowin: Our Work, Our People, Our Communities," Timmons adds.  "One goal is to build long-term relationships with First Nations and Métis communities and reflect their cultures across program areas and campus life.  We are encouraged by the larger intake of new students and will continue to work to attract and retain Aboriginal students by providing a welcoming and inclusive environment."

President Timmons attributes some of the progress related to Aboriginal enrolment to initiatives taking place both on and off campus. She recently returned from an external outreach tour in northern Saskatchewan where she met with a number of chiefs from northern communities and discussed how to better support post-secondary educational success.

"The dialogue throughout the tour was highly respectful and historical in many ways.  It will help to guide us as we continue to develop initiatives to support the success of Aboriginal students, faculty and staff on campus," she says.

The University of Regina's federated college, First Nations University of Canada, has also seen success this year with an increase in course enrolments, the establishment of a national Board of Governors and the hiring of a new President, Dr. Doyle Anderson. The federated college has stabilized and now is on a growth trajectory.