THE ISSUE
Social distancing protocols have greatly impacted how staff and faculty of
post-secondary institutions can meaningfully support Indigenous students.
As many colleges and universities closed their doors in response to
COVID-19, supporting Indigenous students has been a challenge for many
of those who play a vital role in fostering their well-being and success.
Despite the many challenges emerging from this unprecedented time,
staff and faculty continue to creatively support Indigenous students in
meaningful ways. Hopeful practices have emerged from the ability to
adapt to meet the new demands of a more virtual world.
The changes in program delivery coupled with social distancing measures
requires staff and faculty to rethink how Indigenous students will be
supported in the future. It is important that universities and colleges
across Canada understand how COVID-19 has impacted Indigenous
students from application process to graduation.
In order to identify common challenges and find ways to overcome them,
staff and faculty from across the country participated in a virtual
knowledge sharing event. From this event emerged recommendations for
how colleges and universities can support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
students during COVID-19 and beyond.
