> Aboriginal university prep program launches
Aboriginal university prep program launches
Contact:
- Natalie Wood-Wiens, 778.782.7107, Natalie_Wood@sfu.ca
- John McKendry, 778.782.7612, John_McKendry@sfu.ca
- Marilynne Waithman, 604.599.2388, Marilynne.Waithman@kwantlen.ca
May 11, 2007
Seven proud students are ready for university after successfully completing the first joint Kwantlen University College - Simon Fraser University aboriginal university preparation program.
According to John McKendry, SFU Surrey’s community outreach director, the program is one of few programs in British Columbia designed to prepare First Nations and other aboriginal people for higher education.
“The program completion rate was almost 50 per cent and would have exceeded 50 per cent had illness not resulted in two students discontinuing just prior to completion. This is an excellent completion rate for a new program of this type,” he said. SFU and Kwantlen plan to offer the four-month program again in the fall of 2007.
Hector Hill, one of the graduates, said the program was challenging at first, “but the instructors and the tutor were very helpful in explaining what we need to do.”
Students pay only for course materials, says instructor Natalie Wood-Wiens. The tuition-free program is designed to give students a solid foundation of academic and personal success skills to help them prepare for a full range of post-secondary education options. It includes foundation courses in university-level reading and writing, mathematics, science, and indigenous knowledge in the modern world as well as study skills, managing stress, motivation, wellness, and careers in a global environment.
“We also help the students get familiar with other aspects of the university, such as dealing with student services and counselling services,” Wood-Wiens says.
According to John McKendry, SFU Surrey’s community outreach director, the program is one of few programs in British Columbia designed to prepare First Nations and other aboriginal people for higher education.
“The program completion rate was almost 50 per cent and would have exceeded 50 per cent had illness not resulted in two students discontinuing just prior to completion. This is an excellent completion rate for a new program of this type,” he said. SFU and Kwantlen plan to offer the four-month program again in the fall of 2007.
Hector Hill, one of the graduates, said the program was challenging at first, “but the instructors and the tutor were very helpful in explaining what we need to do.”
Students pay only for course materials, says instructor Natalie Wood-Wiens. The tuition-free program is designed to give students a solid foundation of academic and personal success skills to help them prepare for a full range of post-secondary education options. It includes foundation courses in university-level reading and writing, mathematics, science, and indigenous knowledge in the modern world as well as study skills, managing stress, motivation, wellness, and careers in a global environment.
“We also help the students get familiar with other aspects of the university, such as dealing with student services and counselling services,” Wood-Wiens says.