In an effort to better assist Indigenous students struggling financially, Western University has launched a new bursary program.
Created in partnership with Indspire, a national charity focused on Indigenous education, bursaries of $4,000 will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students in any field of study at the post secondary institution. For engineering students, bursaries of $8,000 are available through the program.
“Indigenous students face complex and often compounded barriers in accessing and completing their education, with the lack of financial resources cited as the number one reason they are unable to complete post secondary studies,” Candace Brunette-Debassige, Western's acting vice-provost and associate vice-president of Indigenous Initiatives, said in a statement. “The university’s investment and Indspire’s ability to match funds is a move in the right direction in helping reduce barriers faced by Indigenous students.”
The bursaries will be managed and distributed through Indspire, which is applying to have the federal government nearly match Western's $500,000 contribution over the next five years.
"Western, my alma mater, is taking a significant step in supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis students to achieve their potential through education. This investment has the potential to transform not only the lives of these individuals, but also their families, communities and Canada,” said Roberta Jamieson, outgoing president and CEO of Indspire.
The bursary program comes after Western’s first Indigenous Strategic Plan recommended improved financial support to enhance recruitment and retention efforts.
Indigenous students interested in the bursaries need to apply through Indspire by February 1.