The overall goal of AT: U2G was to contribute to increased transition and completion rates for Aboriginal learners in British Columbia and beyond by developing a graduate studies transition framework that will be implemented in Phase II of this project. This community report presents a brief overview of the study’s conceptual framework, research questions and methodology, and a summary of the key findings/lessons learned.

Aboriginal Transitions: Undergraduate to Graduate Studies (AT: U2G) focused on the undergraduate-to-graduate transition theme by:

• Conducting a rigorous examination of graduate program/mentoring models in BC, across Canada, and internationally, with particular attention to those that serve Aboriginal graduate students
• Conducting a critical analysis of existing post-secondary student data and literature on the topic
• Conduct a comprehensive research project, which included individual interviews, focus groups, and surveys, the outcomes of which provided a new, evidence-based and provincially transportable model for U2G educational transition.

The wholistic Indigenous framework informed all aspects of the AT: U2G research project. Researchers explored Aboriginal student transitions from the perspective of the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical factors that facilitate or hinder Aboriginal undergraduate transition to graduate study. The conceptual framework was inclusive of individual, family, nation, and community aspects that reflect the inter-relationships between structural, individual, and social and cultural factors associated with individual aspirations, intentions, and actions. Overarching the circles are the 4Rs of Reciprocity, Relevance, Responsibility, and Respect (see Kirkness & Barnhardt, 1991), which also guided the project from design to dissemination.

Key findings from the first phase (year 1, 2008-2009) of the study were used to develop three major transitional framework components: (1) research awareness/learning and faculty mentoring; (2) peer support through a SAGE-Undergraduate provincial network; and (3) digital technology and Web 2.0 approaches. Each component was piloted (year 2, 2009-2010) with participating post-secondary institutions across British Columbia.

Sponsors: 
Indigenous Education Institute of Canada, UBC Faculty of Education 
EDUDATA Canada, UBC Faculty of Education

Dr. Jo-ann Archibald, Dr. Michelle Pidgeon  and project manager, Dr. Colleen Hawkey, UBC, worked with 55 Aboriginal graduate and undergraduate student research assistants and storywriters from 2008-2010.