Sask Polytech committed to Indigenous student success
Sask Polytech’s 2018-2023 Indigenous Student Success Strategy was launched last year and is now enhancing services and programming for Indigenous studies throughout the institution.
At 19 per cent, self-declared Indigenous students are an important and growing segment of Sask Polytech’s student population (a 29 per cent increase from the 2009-2010 to 2016-2017 academic years). The new Indigenous Student Success Strategy builds on the previous Aboriginal Student Achievement Plan from 2009.
Dr. Larry Rosia is president and CEO of Sask Polytech and has been in this role since 2012.
Jason Seright is Sask Polytech’s director of Indigenous strategy. Originally from Buffalo Narrows, Seright is Métis. He began his postsecondary studies at the University of Saskatchewan, then obtained a master’s degree in education from the University of Calgary. Dr. Rosia and Seright refer to their working relationship as a close one and they “talk on a daily basis.”
Sask Polytech is located on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories and the Homeland of the Métis. The institution serves 28,000 students through applied learning opportunities at four campuses (Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon) and through distance education programs.
Dr. Rosia describes Sask Polytech’s unofficial programming philosophy as: “If there isn’t a job waiting – there isn’t a program. Our focus is on graduates who will drive the provincial economy.”
Creating the Indigenous Student Success Strategy involved consultations and input from 763 people. These stakeholders included Elders, First Nation leaders, students, faculty and staff. Four strategic goals emerged from the consultation process: Welcome, Inspire, Empower and Belong.
Dr. Rosia explains the targets Sask Polytech sets for Indigenous student recruitment, retention and employment after graduation. “Sask Polytech has more Indigenous students than any other post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan. Currently there is a four per cent employment rate differential between our non-indigenous and Indigenous graduates. We would like our Indigenous students to see the same success as our non-indigenous students.”
According to 2016-2017 baseline data, Indigenous students graduate from Sask Polytech’s certificate, diploma and degree programs at a rate of 57 per cent. The graduate rate for Indigenous students in apprenticeship programs is higher at 81 per cent.
Seright notes that programs with the highest Indigenous student registration are the Schools of Business, Health Sciences, Hospitality and Tourism, Human Services and Community Safety, and Natural Resources and Built Environment. In addition, Indigenous students come to Sask Polytech to learn in-demand trades such as steamfitter-pipefitter and carpentry.
Sask Polytech has produced a 2019 Indigenous role models’ calendar that features the success stories of actual students (and graduates) in programs that range from Aboriginal policing preparation to power engineering technology.
“People tend to model what they are exposed to and, for Indigenous students, this was often role models in the fields of social work and education. As students see more career options and more diverse role models, that’s changing. I’m particularly excited by the number of Indigenous students registered in the School of Health Sciences. Those jobs are in high demand in Saskatchewan and have a strong science and math focus,” says Seright.
Sask Polytech offer Indigenous students multiple supports as part of the Indigenous Student Success Strategy. These include tutoring, counselling, assistance with funding and more than 200 scholarships. Dr. Rosia and Seright highlight two key elements: summer transition programming and access to Indigenous students’ centres.
Taking place each August, summer transition programming is aimed at Indigenous students relocating to an unfamiliar urban environment to attend Sask Polytech. These students are often away from family and established community networks. Indigenous students’ centres at the four campuses enable social interactions with other students and Elders, further easing students into busy campus life.
Additionally, by 2023 there will be Indigenous elements integrated into all Sask Polytech’s programs. Sask Polytech has made an effort to incorporate best practices from around the world. These bestin-class institutions include Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, New Zealand and Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Summarizes Seright: “Our approach is not paternalistic. We approach our Indigenous students and stakeholders with the question ‘what do you need?’ We created a continuous feedback loop to integrate Indigenous ways of learning into our programs and to enable student success. My two young grandchildren, and their future education, are what inspires me to continue this journey to ensure equal opportunities to succeed.”
For more information, visit saskpolytech.ca/indigenous.