Assessment Services: Aboriginal and mainstream colleges and institutes offer assessment services to Aboriginal learners both for high school entrants and mature students including college entrance and academic testing, adult basic education assessments, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition services, and English or French language competency assessment. Colleges and institutes highlighted the need for assessment tools and approaches to be culturally appropriate for Aboriginal learners.

Counselling Services: Aboriginal and mainstream institutions provide academic counselling and advising services, as well as personal, financial and anti-discrimination counselling to assist with entry and transitions to college/institute programs or transfer to other post-secondary institutions. About one third of mainstream institutions provide Aboriginal-specific counselling services. Participating colleges and institutes also confirmed the need for counselling staff to receive Aboriginal cross-cultural training to ensure they are well prepared to work with Aboriginal learners.

Support services aimed at Aboriginal student retention and program completion: Aboriginal and mainstream colleges and institutes confirmed that they offer the following types of support services aimed at facilitating Aboriginal learners’ participation and success in programs: tutoring, Aboriginal gathering places on campus, learning centres, financial assistance, support to find housing, support from community Elders, daycare services, mentor programs, health services and Resident Elder services.

Support services aimed at facilitating Aboriginal labour market participation: Colleges and institutes support their students with the transition into the labour market through a mix of services which include:

• Work placements and internships to provide learners with work experience and employers;
• Career and employment counselling and job search support as confirmed by close to 80 percent of respondent institutions;
• Preparation of resumes, curriculum vitae and job search skills training;
• Mentor programs with practitioners and professionals in students’ field of study.

Education and Training Programs: Aboriginal and mainstream institutions provide different types of education and training programs intended to meet the diverse needs of Aboriginal learners whether they are high school leavers, adult learners or recent high school graduates, as well as their varied goals for post-secondary education.

• Access and Preparatory Programs Access and preparatory programs are offered by Aboriginal and mainstream institutions in order address the needs of Aboriginal learners who either do not meet the basic entry requirements for regular college/institute programs, require upgrading of academic skills before entering career/technical or trades/apprenticeship programs. The types of programs which colleges and institutes would categorize as being “access programs” differ from one province/territory to another. For most institutions, access programs are the Adult Basic Education and upgrading programs, however Aboriginal institutions and some mainstream institutions have introduced access programs which are focused on specific career/technical fields or pre-trades. These programs are designed to meet specific needs of Aboriginal learners by adapting career/technical programs to include courses which address specific skills requirements.