UBC Okanagan and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society are piloting a project that will open the door for adult Aboriginal students who are interested in pursuing post-secondary studies.
The Downtown Education Project will offer an introductory UBC writing course at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre on Leon Avenue, explains Adrienne Vedan, Director of Aboriginal Programs and Services at UBC.
“The goal of the pilot project is to increase access to post-secondary education for urban Aboriginals,” says Vedan. “UBC and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society recognize that large segments of the urban Aboriginal population face barriers to achieving success in a post-secondary environment. We hope to remove some of those barriers.”
The pilot will combine both academic and non-academic programming to prepare students who are interested in transitioning to post-secondary. Through the partnership, students will be able to access a holistic array of programs in the downtown setting that will meet the academic, social, cultural, and physical aspects of being a student, says Vedan.
Edna Terbasket, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society Executive Director, says the project partners agree that offering the UBC courses at the downtown centre removes several barriers and provides potential students with a comfortable and familiar environment.
“Providing a way past some of these barriers is best achieved in an environment that’s familiar and reinforces success,” Terbasket says. “By offering the pilot project at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, the students will be able to learn in an environment where they can access a number of different programs. They will also be able to connect with mentors, program facilitators, and support workers who will be able to assist them in achieving academic success.”
The first course offered in the Downtown Education Project is UBC’s WRIT 009: Preparation for University Writing which is taught from an Aboriginal perspective. Additional post-secondary transition and orientation programming will also be offered as part of the Downtown Education Project. The pilot course runs from mid-January to April and Vedan says it is an ideal choice for the initial option in the project.
“The course is designed to help students make the transition from high school-level studies to undergraduate level studies at UBC, and to provide learners with a variety of opportunities to practice, develop and apply in context their academic writing skills,” Vedan says. “The course allows learners to express their ideas and those of others through written academic discourse.”
The Downtown Education Project’s first class starts this week and UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Okanagan campus Deborah Buszard says one of UBC’s goals is to expand educational opportunities for Aboriginal people.
“In partnership with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, we are creating remarkable new opportunities for adults who otherwise might not have access to a university education,” says Buszard. “We look forward to celebrating their success as university students.”
The Downtown Project is open to any adult Aboriginal student who is interested in transitioning into post-secondary studies. For further information please contact Veronica Roesler at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society 250-763-4905.
