New SFU/Langara partnership eases Indigenous students’ transfer to SFU

A new agreement between SFU and Langara College paves the way for Indigenous students to transfer more easily from the college to SFU to complete their degree programs. The new agreement becomes effective in September 2020.

The SFU-Langara Indigenous Transfer Pathway agreement is connected to the work SFU started in 2016 when President Andrew Petter convened the Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (SFU-ARC). The council facilitates and supports broad discussions about how to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations related to post-secondary education.

The SFU-ARC report, Walk This Path With Us, sets out 34 calls to action. SFU has made it a priority to support the process of reconciliation while empowering Indigenous future learners.

“The dedication and hard work of both Marcia Guno, director of the Indigenous Student Centre at SFU, 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’ transition from Langara to SFU,” says Jonathan Driver, SFU’s vice-president academic.

“This 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,” said Ben Cecil, Langara provost and vice-president, academic and students. “It 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.”

In 2018-19, SFU and the Indigenous community celebrated SFU’s 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 SFU courses and programs, as well as any academic and admission requirements
• registering eligible Indigenous students for assistance in their successful transition to SFU
• providing information on potential entrance awards that may be available to eligible students
• forwarding student names (with permission) to SFU for flagging in the SFU admission process
• facilitating SFU recruitment initiatives at Langara

SFU 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 SFU campus, meet with staff in the SFU 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 SFU transfer students