FASS is pleased to have Arts Central provide the home for the interim SFU Aboriginal University Preparation Program for the 2017/2018 academic year. Home to the First Nations Studies Department, the growing and successful First Nations Language Proficiency Undergraduate Certificates and the Linguistics of a First Nations Language Graduate Certificate, and provider of many other courses with indigenous content, FASS is a strong ally in this pilot interim university preparation program to opening pathways for aboriginal students to all SFU disciplines.

To respond to calls from SFU students, faculty, staff, members of the aboriginal community and allies, the Vice-President, Academic and Provost Peter Keller announces today an initiative to provide a pilot for interim academic programming for students previously served by the recently cancelled Aboriginal University Transition Programming. Effective immediately, the Interim Academic University Preparation Program (AUPP) will be located in Arts Central in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on the Burnaby Campus for the academic 2017/2018 year only.  FASS has struck an Advisory Committee of leading indigenous scholars, instructors, alumni and staff and will consult with aboriginal communities to guide the pilot. 

In parallel, SFU will conduct a separate community consultation process that is able to, in the words of Dr. Keller, “re-envision future pathways and bridging options” consistent with the spirit of the recommendations of both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but also the multi-year implementation plan flowing from the comprehensive recommendations of the SFU Aboriginal Reconciliation Council’s Report entitled Walk This Path With Us released in the Spring of 2017.

If you have questions about the AUPP FASS pilot, please email Bettina Cenerelli or call 778-782-6686.