Support for Indigenous and immigrant students
New bursaries are a critical step toward removing barriers for under-represented groups
Doyin Agbaje (Bachelor of Business Administration in Management), one of the many graduates who have benefited from awards made available through donor support. supplied
While Douglas College has one of the most diverse student populations in British Columbia, a recent review of the post-secondary institution’s awards, bursaries and scholarships identified a gap in financial aid and motivated the creation of a campaign to raise funds to better support Indigenous and immigrant students.
The Douglas College Foundation’s Campaign for Indigenous and Immigrant Student Awards raised $140,000, a record amount for the organization. The funds will support 10 bursaries of $7,000 each, plus two endowed bursaries in perpetuity.
Cheryl Bosley, director of philanthropy for Douglas College Foundation, explains that these bursaries are a critical step in the college’s commitment to remove barriers and level the playing field for under-represented groups.
“The campaign aligned with Douglas College’s Indigenization strategy that focuses on deepening relationships with local First Nations communities in ways that serve their interests and needs,” says Ms. Bosley, adding the initiative also responds to the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action – specifically to close gaps in education and equity for young Indigenous people.
The foundation’s team introduced several new tactics to drive the campaign, says Ms. Bosley. For the first time, alumni were encouraged to participate in a fundraising effort, and the foundation secured a corporate sponsor, TD Bank, to match donations from these past students up to $10,000.
“We already had the college’s commitment to match gifts to the campaign, so TD Bank’s additional support tripled every donation,” says Theresa Blancaflor, the foundation’s manager of philanthropy.
Fundraisers also reached out to other corporate donors, receiving additional support from the Bank of Montreal and London Drugs. Support was also provided from the Joseph Segal Family Foundation.
“One of the challenges facing potential funders is deciding where to direct funds when there are so many organizations that deserve support, particularly given the current economic realities in Canada,” says Ms. Bosley.
“We believe those organizations that partnered with us did so because the campaign reflected their values of inclusivity and equity combined with their focus of supporting education and learning,” she says. “London Drugs gave us this inspirational feedback: ‘We believe in funding the future, and supporting education is key to creating a future all young Canadians deserve.’”
The final donation of $6,500 came from the Douglas Students’ Union, enabling the campaign to meet its goal. It came with a message: “Decades of struggle to enroll more students from marginalized communities in post-secondary education indicates that we are still a long way from equalizing access to education for all. Our hope is that this gift to the campaign encourages students to enjoy the journey rather than be concerned about the barriers.”
While the terms of reference for the bursaries are still being finalized, Ms. Blancaflor says recipients of the awards in the identified groups will be full-time students at Douglas College with a demonstrated financial need.
“There will be no restrictions on what the students choose to study; we want to make the bursaries as accessible as possible,” she says.
After celebrating the success of the Campaign for Indigenous and Immigrant Student Awards, the foundation is ready to launch its fall campaign. After consulting with stakeholders and researching the job market, the new campaign will focus on supporting veterinary technology students.
“The veterinary sector is in crisis with a lack of qualified veterinary professionals and steep increases in demand for services. While this puts animals at risk, it also adds to the stress of people working in the sector and adversely impacts the mental well-being of these professionals,” says Ms. Blancaflor, pointing out that Douglas College is one of only two post-secondary institutions in British Columbia that offer a recognized veterinary technology program.
The initiative is intended to support three bursaries (in perpetuity) for veterinary technology students enrolled at Douglas College.
More information: douglascollege.ca/strengthen-pathways
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