Page 28 - 2024 October

GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (6) b. Dalhousie University
Lisa introduced Dr. John Newhook, Dean of Engineering; Christine Baker, Senior Director of Development; and Dr. Sherry Hassanali, Assistant Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) in the Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Newhook appeared before the Committee via Zoom. The following materials had been circulated: a proposal requesting a 1:1 matching grant of $1,050,000 CAD over 5 years to provide 45 student scholarships to Indigenous and African Nova Scotians in the Faculty of Engineering; a report from a July 23, 2024 site visit to Dalhousie; and Dalhousie’s 2023-2024 report on the JSF-funded pathways program for students pursuing studies in the health sciences.
Sherry Hassanali began the presentation with a land acknowledgment. Christine explained that Dalhousie is the largest university in Atlantic Canada, with 21,000 students. Engineering is one of 13 faculties and has about 2,400 students. At Dalhousie, Mi’kmaq students make up 1% of the student body but just .8% of students in engineering. Likewise, African Nova Scotian students make up 2% of Dalhousie’s students but only .7% of engineering students. To change those numbers, the university wants to use what it learned from past JSF grants with the goal of providing wraparound support for all equity-deserving groups.
Sherry described several recent developments, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ulnooweg Education Centre and the hiring of Daisy Peter-Paul to serve as Program Coordinator for the Indigenous Pathways Program. Daisy is a shared employee of both Dalhousie and Ulnooweg. An advisory council has been developed, and more than $400,000 has been secured from external donors for the program. A new course is in development called Indigenous Perspectives on Engineering, and the hope is that all engineering students will take the course.
A bridging year program is in development for students who do not have the high school prerequisites to enter the engineering school. Tutoring, mentorship and co-op opportunities also will be available for the Pathways students. A land-based retreat is also in the works, along with 13 Indigenous community visits, career counseling and financial support for 45 new Indigenous and African Nova Scotian students in the next 6 years.
A question was asked whether similar programs are being developed for African Nova Scotian students. Sherry explained that the Mi’kmaq students are the focus of the first year, and the next cohort will be African Nova Scotian. She said the reason is that they want to hear from the African Nova Scotian students. Christine added that there are some upcoming events, such as the PREP Academy for high school students, where prospective African Nova Scotian students will be on Dalhousie’s campus.
Another question was raised about the number of Native administrators, professors and staff. Sherry said Daisy and the team from Ulnooweg are assisting, and she is working closely with the other EDIA coordinators on campus. She said the goal is to create a pipeline. Hopefully the students will graduate from Dalhousie and want to come back and teach.
Page 26 October Report