Education

4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 EDUCATION GUIDE BY GEOFF KIRBYSON A fter a successful first year, there are even higher hopes this au- tumn for a new initiative de- signed to help Indigenous stu- dents make a smooth transition to life at Brandon University. The Al and Bee Wagner Indigenous Student Transition Program helped more than a dozen students navigate their first year of post-sec- ondary education last year. It was first rolled out to students in health studies, science and business, and numbers are expected to in- crease to 20 now that it's open to all faculties, with further growth in the future. The program helps with students' transi- tions in four key aspects of their lives — aca- demic, social, personal and cultural. The overarching goal is to increase the grad- uation rate of Indigenous students, which is considerably lower than that of non-Indige- nous students, says program co-ordinator De- idre Gregory. There's also some tangible motivation for the students. As part of a laptop incentive pro- gram, if they complete their first year of stud- ies, the computer that was purchased for them in the fall will become their own. Students who are accepted will take part in an extended weeklong orientation in August, learning how to navigate both the campus and Manitoba's second-largest city. The road map will focus on life essentials, such as housing, shopping, childcare needs, finding a doctor and using online platforms, while covering student essentials, including how to study ef- fectively, how to conduct research and how to write a paper. Gregory says the orientation will help stu- dents build a sense of belonging and inclusion. "I'm here for whatever they need through the first year. I'll walk with them through so- lutions to whatever their issues might be. I'll help them connect with their professors, and I'll arrange tutors for them. It's about making sure they can fully access all the options avail- able at Brandon University," she says. Their orientation also includes an intro- duction to the support networks at Brandon University, such as the deans and teams at the Indigenous People's Centre and Student Services. Other resources for students include peer mentors, a knowledge keeper and elder support. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing many Indigenous students is relocating from their home community to an urban centre, she says. Gregory understands those challenges, as she's Indigenous herself. A member of the Ba- con Ridge/Ebb and Flow First Nation about 45 minutes southeast of Dauphin, she moved to Brandon in 1994. "I was in their shoes at one time. I remember how daunting it was to navigate this big school coming from a small school. I know how scary it is to come here with no supports," she says. "You want the education but there are so many barriers to overcome. You have to push through. You may have to relocate and leave your support system behind." Gregory has graduated from BU twice: Once with a bachelor of First Nations and Aboriginal counselling and a second time with a master's degree in education specializing in guidance and counselling. She'll meet with each student for a one-on- one check-in on a weekly basis. During these meetings, she'll go over every course they're taking, see how their assignments are coming along and determine what — if any — sup- ports are needed. During exit surveys last year, Gregory dis- covered how valuable the students considered the check-ins for both their academic and per- sonal lives. "Everybody was at home. A couple of the students said the check-ins were the only oth- er time they had interactions with anybody other than their family," she says. "They said it was nice to connect with somebody outside of their homes. It helped them deal with the iso- lation that many of them were feeling." As Brandon University welcomes a growing number of students back on campus, Gregory says everyone is looking forward to making and renewing those connections in person. For more information on BU's Indigenous Student Transition Program, as well as the many programs available for everyone at Brandon University, visit brandonu.ca. SUPPLIED Three Indigenous Student Transition Program participants from the first cohort; (from left) Stephanie Spence, Kamryn Johnson and Sabrina Ricker. Road map for Indigenous success I'm here for whatever they need through the first year. I'll walk with them through solutions to whatever their issues might be." — Deidre Gregory, program co-ordinator of Brandon University's Al and Bee Wagner Indigenous Student Transition Program SUPPLIED Deidre Gregory is program co-ordinator of Brandon University's Al and Bee Wagner Indigenous Student Transition Program. BRANDON UNIVERSITY Right now is the best time to start building your future with Brandon University. No matter where you are, or how you're learning, you can get the flexibility and stability you need at BU. BUILD YOUR FUTURE IN BRANDON 93% of grads say BU prepared them to excel in the workforce 98% of grads say they recommend Brandon Join our satisfied students and build your bright future today! FUTURES ARE built in Book your virtual presentation at BrandonU.ca/Your-Future

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