Summer/Fall 2005

1. Post-Secondary Education ProgramJoint AFN/INAC PSE Program Reviewwith representation from NAIIHL and the Labrador InuitRegional Information Process Summer/Fall 2005

2. PSE Program Review ProcessThis presentation will look at the following questions: 1.Briefly, what is the PSE program? • Why is the program being reviewed? • What is the process for the Review? • What is the time line for the Review? • What are the issues the Joint Working Group is looking at? • How will the Joint Working Group know what First Nations want? • What does the Joint Working Group need to know from First Nations? • How will First Nations know what changes are planned?

3. What is the PSE program? The Post-Secondary Education (PSE) program has two parts: 1. The Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), including University and College Entrance Preparation (UCEP) and 2. The Indian Studies Support Program (ISSP) PSSSP: funds eligible students attending recognized institutions for tuition, books and supplies, travel, & living allowances for set period of time ISSP: up to 12% of the PSE budget may be used to support program design and delivery that enhances First Nation and Inuit PSE achievement. This includes funding for Indigenous institutes of higher learning. The National PSE program budget for 2005-2006: $304.85M

4. What is the PSE program? The goal or objective of the current PSE program is: To improve the employability of First Nation people and Inuit by providing eligible students with access to education and skill development opportunities at the post-secondary level. This is expected to lead to greater participation of First Nation and Inuit students in post-secondary studies, higher First Nation and Inuit graduation rates from post-secondary programs, and higher employment rates for First Nation people and Inuit. It is expected that students funded by this program will have post-secondary educational outcomes comparable to other Canadians with similar educational backgrounds.

5. Why is the PSE program being reviewed? • The PSE program was last reviewed in 1989;, this is the first joint review of the program since it started. • For some time First Nations have expressed concern that PSE funding is not adequate to meet the needs of students – cost for tuition and living have increased faster than the program budget. • In her November 2004 report on the PSE program, the Auditor General was quite critical of the management of the program, saying that there needed to be: a clear statement of roles and responsibilities (who is responsible for what); clear performance expectations; a mechanism for allocating funds to ensure equitable access to as many students as possible; credible reporting; and, reasonable review and adjustment. • This PSE Review is an opportunity to look at the program – what is good about it and what would be better if changes were made.

6. What is the Process for the PSE Review? • A Joint AFN/INAC Working Group has been set up to make recommendations for the future of the PSE program. • There are First Nation representatives from each region as well as a representatives from the National Association of Indigenous Institutes of Higher Learning (NAIIHL) and the Inuit of Labrador • The majority of members of the Working Group are First Nation. • The Working Group will seek input from First Nations through regional meetings and a review of existing studies. It will present its recommendations to the Chiefs’ Committee on Education and the National Indian Education Council (NIEC) and to INAC as well as to the Labrador Inuit Association. • INAC will prepare the documents necessary to get the approval of the government for any changes to the PSE program, based on the accepted recommendations of the Joint Working Group.

7. What is the Time Line for the Review? 1989: PSE Program Revised 2004: November Auditor General’s Report 2005: Early Fall Regional Input to PSE Review 2006: June Renewed Policy & Management Framework 2000: AFN Review of PSE Program 2005: January PSE Working Group Established 2006: January Working Group Recommendations Complete 2007: April New PSE Program in place The time line presented here is what the Joint Working Group is working towards. There are deadlines that have been established for the process that MUST be met. These are: Renewed PSE Policy Framework: June 2006 Renewed PSE Management Framework: June 2007 Changes in funding arrangements in effect for April 2008

8. What are the Issues the Joint Working Group is looking at? The Joint Working Group has identified some key issues: For the PSSSP component: • Goals and Objectives 2. Roles and Responsibilities • Current capacity to meet needs • Data collection and monitoring • Program Resources • Program Management For the ISSP component: The same 6 issues, plus 7. Recognition of First Nation post-secondary institutions

9. How does the Joint Working Group know what First Nations want in the PSE program? • The Working Group is learning from many reports that have been done about the program in the past. • The Working Group also wants to hear from First Nation communities directly, through their PSE managers and other PSE stakeholders. • There will be Regional Meetings that bring all of the First Nation PSE managers and other stakeholders together to share information. • The Working Group would like the PSE managers to consult with others in the community, including students, about the questions to be discussed at the Regional Meetings. • The questions that must be answered at the Regional Meetings are included as part of this information package. This information is vital to developing a new PSE policy. • There will be a report to the Working Group from each Regional Meeting and the Working Group will consider all of the regional reports when making its recommendations.

10. What does the Joint Working Group need to know from First Nations about student support and about institutional support? • What should be the goals and objectives of the PSE program – for communities, for students, and for institutions? • What is working well about the program now? • What problems have come up in managing the program? • Does the program meet the needs of students (or potential students) in your community? • If not, in what way would you like to see the program change to better meet student needs? - who should be funded? - what should funded (e.g., range of student services, kind of programs)? • What does and doesn’t work about the way the funding is currently allocated and managed?

11. How will First Nations know what changes to the PSE program are planned? • The Joint Working Group plans to have draft recommendations for policy and program management changes ready to be presented to the Chief’s Committee on Education and to the National Indian Education Council, to INAC and to the Labrador Inuit Association by January 2006. • The Joint Working Group will communicate information about the PSE Program Review recommendations on the AFN and INAC websites and in various other ways, such as a special bulleting to be mailed to all participants at the regional meetings. • After January 2006, each First Nation regional representative on the Joint Working Group can provide information back to their regions on what changes are being proposed. • Decisions on any changes that will be requested must be final before March 2006 in order to have the policy framework finalized by June 2006.

12. Important Dates • September 22, 2005 – BC PSE Review Consultation meeting ( one representative from each Band/Education Authority) - a preliminary report will be drafted and presented October 2005 to the National PSE Working Group and shared at the FNESC Regional Sessions.) • Fall FNESC Regional sessions for further input • January, 2006 final BC Region report to National PSE Working Group

13. Next Steps • Discuss PSE issues in Community and record discussions in the PSE Review Workbook. • Select a representative to attend the Sept. 22, 2005 PSE Consultation meeting. • Participate in the Fall FNESC Regional Sessions to provide further input to the Review. Together we can create a new PSE Policy to meet the needs of our students.

14. Contacts • FNESC Post-Secondary Sub-Committee Chair – Barbara White • Barbw@snuneymuxw.ca • FNESC Director -Post-Secondary Education and Training – Karen Bailey-Romanko • Karenbr@fnesc.ca