11. Funding Mechanisms

 Please describe the type of funding mechanism used for this initiative (e.g. provider’s own budget, service contract, grant, co-funding etc.)

Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Grant; the University of Victoria also provides in-kind support.

12. Organizational Dimensions

 Please describe any key organizational dimensions of this initiative, e.g. delivery mechanisms, number of trainers, reporting structure etc.

The University has set up a project office (the LE,NONET office) that serves as the entry point for students who want to participate; the office is supervised by the office of the Associate VP Academic and Student Affairs. All major decisions are discussed with the Foundation’s Pilot Project Manager.
13. Partnerships Integral or Related Are there any partner organizations involved in the delivery of the initiative? If so, please provide brief details of the partnership arrangements. Several Aboriginal communities are partners for the Community Internships Component; the project also has an Advisory Group that includes UVic faculty members, other PSE institutions and community members.
14. Stakeholder Involvement What mechanisms are used, if any, to involve key stakeholders involved in the development, delivery or evaluation of the initiative? Which groups of stakeholders are involved? Students as mentors from similar backgrounds as participants Several university departments Throughout the project, there will be continued discussion and partnership with Vancouver Island First Nations and Aboriginal organizations.
15. Key Changes Over Time Have there been any major changes in the content or delivery of this initiative over time? If yes, please give brief details. The Bursary component has been refined to include the provision of Emergency bursaries; the Faculty training module will also include a workshop option in addition to the online module.
16. Performance Indicators What indicators are used, if any, to measure the performance of this program? The number of Aboriginal students who persevere and eventually graduate
17. Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms; Reporting What arrangements are there, if any, for the monitoring and evaluation of this program and for reporting on the results? Student retention and academic achievement will be monitored using data maintained by the UVic Registrar’s office. Information will be collected for all new students who self-identify as Aboriginal or can be identified as such through data from the BC Ministry of Education. The study will seek to blend traditional measures of academic performance and program completion with success indicators important to Aboriginal communities and learners. Measures of student satisfaction and success will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and applied to all students who take part in the intervention. Students who decline the intervention, or who are not selected if demand is too high, will also be surveyed using the same instruments if they provide consent.