2002-2003 Annual Report

In Memory of

Norman served his community and his people in many ways. Norm was a founding member of the Grand River Post Secondary Board and continued in this commitment until his passing. Norman was instrumental in the establishment of the board and continued as a staunch supporter of a Six Nations vision of education. He was a wise man and an advocate but most importantly - for education – he was a teacher and a mentor who cared deeply about the future of Six Nations. Even through his illness, he inspired us, protected us and taught us strength. His legacy will live on with each graduate.  

In honour of his contributions to education, we are pleased to announce the Norman Leo Jacobs Scholarship initiated this year by the Grand River Post Secondary Education Office and the founding contributor, Aboriginal Banking Services, Bank of Montreal. To make a donation to the scholarship fund please contact the GRPSEO.

GRPSEO - A New Location

History and Purpose

A Memorandum (1992), between the Six Nations Council and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada provides for the local administration of the Post Secondary Student Support Program.

The Post Secondary Board is mandated to direct the operation of the Grand River Post Secondary Education Office (GRPSEO). Post Secondary Board policy begins with the understanding that the moral ownership of the  "The Grand River Post Secondary Education Organization" are  Onkwehon:we with Grand River Territory lineage.

Board Policy is based on the belief and vision that acquiring knowledge, skills, capabilities, and confidence empower individuals to be self-sufficient and contribute to their communities and society at large. Post Secondary education provides a path to do this.

The Grand River Post Secondary Education Organization therefore exists to empower Onkwehon:we through higher education, within available resources.

In achieving this purpose, the Grand River Post Secondary Education Organization places a high value on organizational integrity and efficiency.

1. The GRPSEO strives to operate in an accountable and consistent manner.
2. The GRPSEO consults the moral ownership of the organization, on a regular basis, to ensure that the organization is on the right track when it comes to community expectations about results and the values that guide the organization. 
3. The GRPSEO then reports issues and outcomes on a regular basis.

As part of its reporting system, the GRPSEO publishes the annual audit for the Grand River Post Secondary Education Office (GRPSEO) completed through KPMG Chartered Accountants, the auditing firm for the Six Nations Council. The GRPSEO further provides an annual enrolment report to INAC as per the 1992 MOU mentioned above. 

This report is issued to the Six Nations Confederacy Council and the Six Nations Elected Council at least once per year as well as to other key stakeholder organizations. Individuals may also request a copy of this report by contacting the Post secondary Office or view the report on our web site at www.grpseo.org.

 The GRPSEO continues to function within the realities of limited resources and increasing demands.  In this report you will therefore find:

• Highlights of outcomes and accomplishments as they relate to the GRPSEO mandate,
• Summaries of issues and trends impacting our post secondary students.

 An Annual report is not only a report on what has taken place but is also a valuable planning tool.

 As always, your comments and input are welcomed. Please feel free to contact us if you wish to comment on this report, have questions or wish to make a contribution toward post secondary education for Six Nations students.  

Outcomes/Accomplishments:

The Grand River Post Secondary Board oversees the operation of the GRPSEO.  

The Board’s main role is to link Onkwehon:we with Grand River lineage so that the board can determine and demand appropriate organizational performance and also to ensure public accountability of the board. The Board and staff take this unique trust obligation seriously.  

Organizational expectations are clearly stated in Board policy. These include limitations placed on operations through Board policy.     

The Board continually reviews Board policy to see if it is in line with the expectations of Onkwehon:we with Grand River lineage and monitors the operations for compliance with this policy.  

The GRPSEO measures outcomes in student accomplishments leading to graduation.  Organizational resources are expended in support of this outcome and the steps toward this end.   

The GRPSEO provides encouragement and support to Onkwehon:we students throughout their post secondary education experience. Student responsibilities are defined at the beginning of the GRPSEO – student relationship in order to ensure student responsibility for decisions and accomplishments.  

Eligible students requesting funding have access to funding within available resources.  

Available resources for supporting post secondary education includes resources from the Federal Government, scholarships, bursaries and donations that meet the ethical standards and values established by the Board. The source of donations must be known and verified as legitimate. In accounting for available resources, the GRPSEO strategically identifies growing needs and increased costs of post secondary education programs. The GRPSEO then advocates to increase awareness about growing needs and limited resources available for Onkwehon:we post secondary education.   

Accurate and timely information is available to students, families, and the community regarding educational trends, opportunities and available resources to support post secondary education. Students, families, and the community are informed that available funding may not be sufficient to meet the full requirement.   

In support of community development, the GRPSEO  encourages student enrolment in a diversity of programs. More specifically, the GRPSEO encourages education in strategic directions (areas) which address the identified needs of Onkwehon:we communities and the community at large. In support of strategic community development, the GRPSEO supports the development of Onkwehon:we professionals through academic opportunities as well as Onkwehon:we stewardship of our languages,  traditions and culture.  

      Post Secondary Graduation 

Six Nations post secondary students continue with high rates of success!  The chart entitled, “Multi-Year Student Status Comparison” shows the outcomes for Six Nations students who received funding through the Post Secondary Office over the past five years. Note especially the high number of graduates and students who complete their year successfully. 

The GRPSEO is pleased to facilitate on-going recognition of Six Nations post secondary student accomplishments. 

• Recognition of student accomplishments is an on-going part of our interaction with students.  
• Student accomplishments are also highlighted in public ways as much as possible.   
• Special recognition is given to graduates at the Annual Student Recognition. The 11th Annual Student Recognition was held August 22, 2003. The change from a fall to late summer date was made to accommodate more students and families.   

Student Recognition is an on-going student support strategy, for example the GRPSEO continues to:  

• publish grad photos in local papers during Community Awareness Week in May.
• attend events on campus whenever possible in support of our students e.g. orientations, convocations, awards nights. 
• maintain a history of student accomplishments (pictures and video tapes) at the office.
• include messages of encouragement or congratulations from Six Nations agencies, business and families in the newsletter to students published three times per year.  
• feature a good news story about a student or grad in each Board newsletter that is distributed in the community.

In recognition of our graduates’ accomplishments, the GRPSEO has included in this report a complete list of graduates since 1992. As you check for your graduate, please note the increasing diversity of programs.

Within available resources, the GRPSEO contributes to positive learning environments for Six Nations post secondary students.    

• The Board and staff support good access, equal opportunity, respect, and support systems. 
• Board members continue to be involved in Aboriginal Education Councils at various post secondary institutes where a high number of our students are enrolled. These Councils advise college and university presidents regarding programming, student support needs, and also help to sensitize college and university staff regarding Onkwehon:we culture, language and history. The GRPSEO is active in Councils at Mohawk College, Niagara College, Fanshawe College, Lambton College and the following niversities: Western, Brock and York.    
• Board and staff members also attend selected education forums to keep up to date on student support strategies and opportunities.

Resources  

Resources are linked with student success  

• Available resources are allocated using a priority system with all eligible student applications. The prioritysystem is designed to provide fair and equitable access to limited funds as students pursuetheirgoal of graduation. 
• Successful continuing students are rewarded with top priority for on-going funding.  
• If a student fails a course then students are expected to pay back the tuition funds, so once again, success is rewarded.

Note the continued decrease in students with dependents. This is a function of limited rates of assistance through the GRPSEO and students taking longer to graduate from high employable rate programs. 

Once a student is approved for funding, very rarely do they allow this opportunity to be lost. “Suspended” applications, in the above chart, indicates the declining number of students unable to complete their year once it has started. Cancelled refers to student who apply and then change their mind and includes student who are not admitted to their programs of choice. “Unfunded” is self-explanatory. 

The stabilizing trend to part time enrolment is related to flexible schedule programs available through Six Nations Polytechnic in partnership with Brock University; the cost of attending full time and the need to continue to upgrade education levels for employment.

The allocation of funds to students with membership under Bill C31 (1985) is consistent with overall membership statistics for each reported year.

The allocation of funds to students by residence is reflective of the residence rates for overall membership.

Scholarships & Awards resulting from donations, fundraising and private sponsors

• GRPSEO increases available resources by targeting scholarships and bursaries through creative fund-raising strategies. 
• As a result of GRPSEO direct fund raising, three scholarships of $2,000 were issued to students at the annual Student Recognition event, August 21, 2003.
• Thanks to staff efforts, retroactive scholarships were issued for the William Wellington Scholarship. 
• Student success, documented financial need and operational accountability continue to attract new award donors.

A very special thank you  

to all who make 

scholarships possible

        Incentives 

Incentives are issued if there are funds left at the end of the previous fiscal year (due to student withdrawal).  

• In March 2003, $100,000 (in one time only incentives) was distributed. This is a decrease in the amount from the previous year. The decrease is due to increased costs. Continuing successful full time students received the incentive.  
• Due to increasing costs, there will not being any incentives issued during the 2003/2004 academic year. 

Student Support Funding 

For the second year, study support funding was issued through the GRPSEO. The funding comes through the Six Nations Social Services and is funded from the National Child Benefit Reinvestment Program. This program is designed to reduce child poverty. The funding was therefore issued to resident post secondary students with dependent children. The amount received depended on the number and age of dependants. The students used the funding to obtain child care services to assist in preparation for final exams and assignments. It is anticipated that similar support funding will be available for the 03/04 academic year  

Advocating for Increased Funding

The GRPSEO continues to advocate for increased funding through the submission of briefings to the Six Nations Council, and the Department of Indian Affairs.  

As a result of joint advocacy between the GRPSEO and the Six Nations Council, the GRPSEO conducted two research projects funded by INAC. The purpose of the first research project was to document the financial need of students while at the same time providing some funding to students who successfully self-funded for the 2001 to 2002 academic year. For the second project, a limited number of students participated in case study research for the 2002 to 2003 academic year. Both projects gathered data to document the need of students to take out loans to pay education costs not covered by funding through the GRPSEO.   The research provides additional support to the case for increased funding for our eligible post secondary students. From the submission, it was clear that many students take out loans to help cover the costs of their education.

Meaningful Information 

The GRPSEO makes every effort to provide accurate and timely information to students, families and the community regarding future employment trends, education opportunities and the resources available to support post secondary education. For example,    

• Information about how to apply is published regularly.   
• The Board issues a newsletter to the community that features a student’s story. This newsletter also includes on-going information about the alarming funding shortage for post secondary students as well as trends that indicate future opportunities for graduates.   
• Current post secondary institution and program information is maintained at the office. This includes information from across Canada and the USA as our students attend many different institutions. A variety of other resource material is also available to students e.g. college and university applications, OSAP applications, and LSAT sample tests.  
• Counselling is provided to active post secondary students. Counselling takes place through student visits to the office, telephone contacts and on campus where possible. Given the increasing number of applications received each year, and the diversity of institutions attended by students, counsellor case loads were reviewed. As a result, the GRPSEO added a fourth counsellor.  See the following exhibits: Grpseo Incoming Contacts – Yearly  Comparisons; Grpseo Staff Response – Yearly Comparisons; Student Program Selections; Grpseo Student Enrolment by Location; and the caseload for each Education Counsellor in the staff directory.  
• Students continue to access fax, photocopy, computer, and Internet equipment at the GRPSEO.  The Internet station is an essential tool for students researching institutions, programs, scholarships, and bursaries.  Students are increasingly required to apply for admission on-line so the demand for these services continues to grow.   
• In support of informed student choice, the GRPSEO continues to publish its newsletter, The Talking Tree, three times per year. A Student Guide to Post Secondary Education Assistance is also available to all students.   
• Students access education assistance application forms and up to date policy information twenty-four hours per day via our web site at www.grpseo.org.  A specialthanks to Virginia Martin for keeping the website up to date. 

• The GRPSEO hosted an Annual Post Secondary Information day on October 22, 2002 at Mohawk College. Reps from many college and universities were on hand to answer student and parents questions about program and services. Over 300 people attended. On November 12, 2003 the Information Day will be held in the Student Centre at Six Nations Polytechnic.  
• Each spring the GRPSEO hosts OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) information sessions. Our continued thanks to Mohawk College for assisting in this information service. 
• To keep informed about programs, admission standards, professional standards, etc., GRPSEO Education Counsellors attend the various forums throughout the year such as Dialogue (Ontario universities’ information forum) as well as Red Carpet Day (the annual college information forum). 
• As part of the “Smart Student Strategy - responsible decisions by informed students”, the GRPSEO now requires a detailed education plan from all first time student applicants. This requires students to doresearch before making program selections and gives a basis for future student –counsellor dialogue.  The GRPSEO continues to provide access to relevant information for students and stresses with students that it is their responsibility to be informed and to think through the implications of their options before making a decision.  Given our limited resources, our education counsellors are limited to two information sessions with secondary students and one with elementary students.    
• GRPSEO continue to provide letters of recommendation/support for students applying for admission to professional programs or for scholarships and bursaries. As part of the GRPSEO’s 2020 Vision for Health Professionals, the GRPSEO participated in several admission proceedings with McMaster Medical School. Grpseo also participated in the review and selection of Canadian Merit Scholarship recipients (national level).    
• Scholarships & bursaries are compiled on an on-going basis.  Current information is available to students in the student work area as well as on disk. Net “Hot Spots” are also bookmarked for student  convenience. A Scholarship CD Rom will be release in the fall of 2003.    
• Board and staff identify local, regional, national and international trends and policies with potential to impact our students.

Community Development  

In support of community development, the GRPSEO encourages student enrolment in a diversity of programs (see charts for Student Program Selections).

More specifically, the GRPSEO encourages education in strategic directions (areas) which address the identified needs of Onkwehon:we communities and the community at large.   

The GPSEO continues with a record number of unfunded applications.  Given the opportunity cost of continued full time study, creative strategies must be developed to continue to support the graduation of our professionals from graduate and doctoral levels of study.     

In “Number of Students In Each Level” please note that despite the increase in number of students funded in 2002 to 2003 (due in part to increased part time enrolment), a different count method was used which does not reflect academic year enrolment.

• The Need for Health Professionals 
  The GRPSEO works with other community agencies to identify Community Development needs. For the past three years, the GRPSEO has participated in the Six Nations Health Sciences Focus Group, made up of five organizations at Six Nations of the Grand River:  Grand River Employment & Training (GREAT), Grand River Post Secondary Education Office (GRPSEO), Six Nations Health Services, Six Nations Polytechnic and the Six Nations Council.   In this past year, the GRPSEO has been active in seeking partnerships to increase enrolment in health programs such as nursing and medicine. In follow up to the 2001, 2020 Vision – A Round Table:  “ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES”, GRPSEO has made numerous presentations to raise awareness and seek partners for the 2020 Vision. More specifically, GRPSEO presented at the Association of Canadian Community Colleges in May of 2003. GRPSEO reps were also active in the MD admissions process at McMaster University for the 2003 intake. Enrolment has increased as a result. GRPSEO is also working with partners to mount a cohort of Registered Practical Nurses in 2004. A symposium of best practices is scheduled for 2004.    
• The Need for Technology & Business Grads   As Six Nations takes on more management responsibility for community infrastructure and operations, the need for technology and business graduates continues to rise, especially as these are two areas in which student enrolment is currently low.   Once again, the GRPSEO works with strategic partners to address these community development needs. During the past year, the GRPSEO became active in the Imperial Oil – Six Nations Education  and Training Steering Committee as per the Imperial Oil-Six Nations agreement. This committee identifies and supports strategies to prepare students to work in technology areas. Strategies are being supported from the elementary to post secondary levels with funding from Imperial Oil.  Please take time to review the SEED progress report included in this annual report.
• Stewardship of our languages, traditions and culture   The GRPSEO continues to support student graduation from programs that allow for research, documentation and instruction related to our languages, traditions and culture. 

Clearly, Six Nations is working toward the collective belief and vision that acquiring knowledge, skills, capabilities, and confidence empower individuals to be self-sufficient and contribute to their communities and society at large.

It is very important to acknowledge that with every student attending post secondary, Six Nations makes a contribution to the financial well being of post secondary institutions and employees. Six Nations post secondary students make significant economic investments to the economies of the cities and provinces where they attend.  Please see the maps showing enrolment and investment by student location.