Thread by @UbysseyNews

#UBCBoG moves onto a presentation about Indigenous students at UBC.

Andrew Parr: this presentation would answer what we're doing to break down the barriers for Indigenous students to access UBC. But also acknowledged ongoing challenges associated with things like housing, cultural change, etc.

Domestic: 8% of UBCO and 3% of UBCV. That number has been "very stubborn" at UBCV — we have focused on moving that number but it hasn't moved a lot.
Provincially, at both campuses, we represent 10% of Indigenous learners.

Student financial assistance has grown over the last 5 years with 65% is non-repayable and the rest being repayable, ex: student loans.

We're doing work with the provincial gov't about the student loan program. We have control over $3.75 million to provide needs, merit support

Some award programs have had a policy change, which positively impacts students.

We don't have much here on grad students due to time.

MK: With a model like tuition waiver, could it go further?
.@charlesmenzies: All developments that UBC does in on Musqueam land. Some of the revenue could be used toward supporting Indigenous students.

Following Ono's apology, how are we reaching out to Indigenous committees in BC and providing academic access to them? Right now, we recruit internationally for "best and brightest." I know a lot of people who are best and brightest.

A: Can't speak to the revenue because that's a different committee.

Students who come from rural BC, UBCO has been a big draw because of its size. UBCV has been working with Langara and it's a great place to start and then be able to transfer easily here.

Want to work with Indigenous leadership at UBC on what they would like to see as the solutions to these problems. We have 1-2 recruiters.

Leona Sparrow: If you get your recruiters out to the metro Vancouver and communities and introduce to the Indigenous students the concept of scholarship so they don't think "Jeez, I don't have any money."

UBC enrolment services staff: The second recruiter is solely focusing on the Lower Mainland.We are hoping to bring in more students to visit. We are building but we do need ongoing support.

Korenberg: For the university, we have a significant commitment to international recruitment. How much do we have for Indigenous recruitment?

Gordon: Want to acknowledge that we have come a long way since the first Aboriginal Strategic Plan. But also need to look at where we should focus in the strategic plan.

VP Students Office noted that they welcome the challenge of thinking big.

Chair Haldane: How do systemic barriers factor into the calculation?
Leona Sparrow: It's not what you know, it's who you know. Our Musqueam community wouldn't have someone from UBC visited if we're not directly connected to UBC through positions and we're 10 mins down the road

Korenberg: What is the biggest prioritiy in the services for Indigenous students?
A: Our biggest priority is changing UBC's position on welcoming students. The old paradigm is transforming the students and now more toward transforming the campus.

Turpel-Lafond: I've read the Advanced Education 2018 report and it doesn't shine a positive light on us. We're not capturing the eligible people and we're taking a substandard group and projecting progress on the fact that we're already low-balling it.

TL: We're second to the bottom in the FTE chart. I'm not saying that we have be the top but as a new person, I want to help make change. The transformation of Indigenous communities rely on their youth being educated — they start out behind and they stay behind.

Teasdale: We should begin immediately in trying to understand where they go after UBC while also expanding the incoming number — can't wait 10 years to do career development.

VP Students Office reiterated that they do have an Indigenous student recruitment plan.

There's a general agreement about the benefit of the partnership between colleges and UBC, where students can adjust in a smaller environment before transferring.
Haldane: I get that we want to be competitive, but there's so much we have to do to support Indigenous learners