Nova Scotia Community College
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Support programs include offering a full-range of mentoring, counseling, peer support, affinity groups, academic support systems specific to diverse groups across its 13 Campuses.  Across 13 campuses, Nova Scotia Community College employs 15 Disability Resource Facilitators (DRFs) who are part of the campus Student Services team. The DRFs support approximately 1,250 students with disabilities college-wide.  The DRFs invite all new incoming students who have self-identified as having a disability to meet and create a personal learning plan. The learning plan identifies learning supports, academic accommodations, learning strategies, and other supports that the student might require to succeed in the program. Over the course of the program, the DRFs work with students to help them fulfill their learning plan and support their education journey.  Disability Resource Facilitators coordinate test accommodation, tutoring, assistive technology and note-taking services on campus.  Students applying to NSCC with an Individual Program Plan (IPP) on their high school transcript are processed through Special Admissions. To promote more participation from students with an IPP, NSCC has reserved one seat in each program section that is specifically for students who apply through Special Admissions.  Disability Resource Facilitators lead outreach initiatives to connect with prospective students, such as offering parent nights at various NSCC campuses and by participating in regional career and education fairs focused on persons with disabilities.  Disability Resource Facilitators also present Canada Student Loan information sessions to prospective students to promote funding options for people with disabilities that link to accessibility services.  Faculty work with Disability Services to ensure that their curriculum meets the needs of all learners.  www.disabilityservices.nscc.ca  Four NSCC campuses host a 14-week trades and technology exploration program for underemployed or unemployed women called Women Unlimited. Participants who successfully complete the program are guaranteed a seat in an NSCC Trades and Technology program of their choice. Women Unlimited allows participants the opportunity to not only explore programs and courses in Trades and Technology, but also job shadow with local employers. http://www.nscc.ca/services/women_unlimited.asp  NSCC International supports students coming from countries around the world to study at NSCC. The NSCC International office with experienced and culturally competent staff can provide resources to international students in finding accommodations and getting settled at NSCC. Each year NSCC International publishes a guidebook for international students. http://international.nscc.ca/  Four African Canadian Student Services coordinators support African Canadian students across NSCC’s 13 campuses. The coordinators provide support to students that include but are not limited to academic advising, advocacy, and peer tutoring. The coordinators also organize cultural events on campus and link students to community resources. NSCC publishes an African Canadian Student Services Resource Guide. http://www.nscc.ca/services/african_canadian_student_services.asp  The African Canadian Student Services coordinators host career exploration workshops at various campuses for African Canadian youth, exposing them to a wide range of career training programs and to mentors from their community.  NSCC has an agreement with the African Canadian Services Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Education that provides a free tutoring service for African Canadians on campus and within the community.  NSCC offers an Africentric adult learning option for African Canadians who want to complete their high school diploma. The program is called African Canadian Transition program. While completing credits for their high school diploma, students are linked to African Canadian role models and mentors and have the opportunity to discuss topics such as racism, power, privilege, and politics in a safe setting. http://www.nscc.ca/learning_programs/programs/PlanDescr.aspx?prg=ALP&pln=ALPLEVEL3  NSCC reserves one seat per program section for African Canadian and Aboriginal Canadian students to promote greater participation from community members. http://www.nscc.ca/admissions/applying/who_can_apply.asp  Three Aboriginal Student Services coordinators and one First Nations Student Advisor support Aboriginal students across NSCC’s 13 campuses. The coordinators provide support to students that include but are not limited to academic advising, advocacy, and peer tutoring. The coordinators also organize cultural events on campus and link students to community resources. NSCC publishes an Aboriginal Student Services Resource Guide.  http://www.nscc.ca/services/first_nations_student_services.asp  Two Student Pathways coordinators are currently leading recruitment and outreach initiatives that promote NSCC to Aboriginal People and African Canadians. The two positions were designated to an African Canadian and an Aboriginal person.  NSCC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. to create a Centre of Excellence. The Centre of Excellence is intended to provide pathways and equitable access to training and opportunities in the marine industry, with a specific focus on African Nova Scotians, Persons with Disabilities, Aboriginal People, and Women in Non-Traditional Occupations.  NSCC distributes approximately 200 bursaries and scholarships annually to approximately 300 recipients. Of those 200 financial awards, 17 are specifically designated to diverse groups. www.nscc.ca/awards  The School of Trades and Technology in collaboration with campus staff annually host an affinity group for Women in Technology. The Women in Technology group is a supportive network and a platform for first and second year students to connect and hear from guest speakers from industry.

 NSCC has a Fair Hiring Process that outlines the College’s equitable hiring policies. The policy identifies specific measures to promote hiring from diverse groups such as African Nova Scotians, Aboriginal peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Women in Non-Traditional Roles.  NSCC ensures that in interviews, diversity is represented on the interview panel when there is a diverse candidate interviewing for a position, in order to show the candidate diversity in action at the College.  Select positions at NSCC, such as an Aboriginal Student Services Coordinator are designated for diverse groups.  NSCC job applications strongly encourage members from diverse groups to self-identify on the application. The application clearly states that diversity is one of NSCC’s core values.  http://www.nscc.ca/about_nscc/jobs_at_nscc/diversity.asp  Campuses organize a Diversity Committee each year to promote diversity on campus, create a welcoming and inclusive environment and to promote cultural events on campus.  Each year NSCC Organizational Learning offers a two-day workshop designed for faculty and staff called “Conversations on Learning: The International/Intercultural Classroom” designed to help build cultural competency among the workshop participants. https://ournscc.nscc.ca/Departments/OrganizationalLearning/learnopps/Pages/InterculturalCompetencyandCrossCulturalAwareness.aspx

 NSCC has a Fair Hiring Process that outlines the College’s equitable hiring policies. The policy identifies specific measures to promote hiring from diverse groups such as African Nova Scotians, Aboriginal peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Women in Non-Traditional Roles.  NSCC ensures that in interviews, diversity is represented on the interview panel when there is a diverse candidate interviewing for a position, in order to show the candidate diversity in action at the College.  Select positions at NSCC, such as an Aboriginal Student Services Coordinator are designated for diverse groups.  NSCC job applications strongly encourage members from diverse groups to self-identify on the application. The application clearly states that diversity is one of NSCC’s core values.  http://www.nscc.ca/about_nscc/jobs_at_nscc/diversity.asp  Campuses organize a diversity committee each year to promote diversity on campus, create a welcoming and inclusive environment and to promote cultural events on campus.  Each year NSCC Organizational Learning offers a two-day workshop designed for faculty and staff called “Conversations on Learning: The International/Intercultural Classroom” designed to help build cultural competency among the workshop participants. https://ournscc.nscc.ca/Departments/OrganizationalLearning/learnopps/Pages/InterculturalCompetencyandCrossCulturalAwareness.aspx