Aboriginal student enrollment at CNC has doubled over the past five years and the provincial government responded this week by announcing it will direct $542,000 to fund CNC programs that support those students.
Combined with $200,000 of its own funding the college had already agreed upon, the Aboriginal Service Plan now has $742,000 to cover its costs in the 2012-13 school year.
The funding will allow CNC and its partners from 20 First Nations, as well as aboriginal organizations and individuals to take part in essential skills training, cultural and language programs and events, policy development, and cultural enhancement of the curriculum. It will also cover the salary of an aboriginal student support worker and pay for aboriginal student learning centres and support services
"CNC saw a 147% increase in aboriginal enrollment to 1,839 learners in all programs in 2010-11, up from 744 in 2006/07," said CNC president John Bowman. "This funding will allow the great work, partnerships and community engagement to continue."
The CNC funding unveiled Thursday is part of a province-wide $4.2 million program to fund similar projects at 11 post-secondary schools in 2012-13.
The number of aboriginal students who earned credits in college courses at CNC increased 36 per cent in the last five years, from 585 in 2006-07 to 795 in 2010-11. The number of credits achieved by aboriginals jumped to 152 in 2010-11, up from 69 in 2006-07.
CNC is also planning on enhancing its student residences by establishing an aboriginal home on the campus, staffed by elders.
