A task force looking at ways of enhancing the recruitment and success of aboriginal students has submitted a comprehensive report to the university president.

Chaired by former Vice-president (Academic) Dr. Evan Simpson, the task force has produced a report with 22 recommendations that fall into four categories – encouraging completion of high school by aboriginal people; success at university through on-campus support; appropriate educational programming; and co-ordination of Memorial’s existing aboriginal expertise.

Dr. Simpson said of all the thematic elements of the report, the call for co-ordination is critical.

“As the Aboriginal Resource Inventory indicates, many relevant activities already occur at Memorial, but they do not connect well and therefore do not add up to much,” he said. “The task force has agreed to remain in existence to help serve this function in the short term, but we need a permanent co-ordinating structure to create and sustain the essential network within and beyond the university.”

In the executive summary, the task force noted that the report’s “serious goals make serious demands upon an organization’s human and financial assets” but that there were several initiatives that require nothing more than revised practices.

Dr. Simpson said the task force was created in the summer of 2008. The committee conducted research on initiatives elsewhere and on aboriginal education generally, consulted widely within the province and throughout Canada, prepared an Aboriginal Resource Inventory for Memorial, and convened several times for discussion and deliberation.

“Hence, the report was in the making for about 15 busy months, during which we attempted to define a realistic set of initiatives for the university.”
The task force was comprised of university administrators and representatives of Newfoundland and Labrador’s aboriginal communities.

Dr. Simpson said the report is an important step in serving these communities and attracting aboriginal students to the university.

“There is a unanimous sense in the committee that the university has an historic opportunity to enter partnerships with a dynamic and growing part of the provincial population,” said Dr. Simpson. “Unless Memorial seizes it the aboriginal communities will look elsewhere for their needs in education and research, and Memorial will find it much more difficult to meet the objectives of its Strategic Plan.”

Dr. Simpson presented the report to Dr. Chris Loomis, president pro tempore, before Christmas.

“We have begun a consultation process across the university community to examine how we could incorporate the recommendations of the task force into our operations,” said Dr. Loomis. “Memorial has always valued its relationships with our community partners. It is essential that we ensure full opportunity for all people in this province. The aboriginal community should not be an exception to that principle.”

The report is online at www.mun.ca/president.