Post-Secondary Student Services

  • Our work towards student success doesn’t end upon graduation from secondary school. Through Post-Secondary Student Services and Sabtuan Adult Education Services, Cree students have access to educational resources at every step along their journey. 

    Post-Secondary Student Services (PSSS) helps students navigate the post-secondary education system and offers financial assistance, guidance counselling, and social support. These services allow Cree students to prepare for meaningful careers by pursuing professional designations and/or post-secondary degrees. Community members who benefit from Post-Secondary Student Services often return to their communities to enhance self-government and fulfill local needs. Others go on to represent the Cree Nation in careers that contribute to Quebec and Canadian societies. Their success is critical to fulfilling the goals of our community.

    Our goal is to make it possible for every Cree student to access and pursue higher learning, acquire qualifications, and become a competent contributor to the Cree Nation. We welcome anyone seeking post-secondary opportunities to contact us for information on financial, academic, and personal support. Our mandate is to work towards student success for all Cree persons of Eeyou Istchee (Note: beneficiaries of JBNQA), regardless of age, gender, special needs, or professional background.

  • ᐊᓐ ᐧᐋ ᐄᔑ ᐋᐸᑎᔒᔥᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓄᐧᐃᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᑖᐹ ᐴᓂᐸᔨᔫ ᐃᔥᑯᑕᐦᒃ ᐁ ᒌᔑᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔥᐹᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓂᔫ᙮ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᑳ ᒌᔑᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔥᐹᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᐊᑐᔅᒉᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᑲᔦᐦ ᔖᐳᐦᑕᐧᐋᓐ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐅᐦᒋ, ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᒨᔥ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᓂᔫ ᑖᓂᑌᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓈᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓄᐧᐃᐧᑖᐤ᙮ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒨᔥ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᓂᔫ ᑖᓂᑌᐦ ᒉ ᐄᔑ ᓈᑎᒧᐧᐋᑲᓄᐧᐃᐧᑖᐤ ᒥᒄ ᑖᓂᑌᐦ ᒉ ᐄᔑ ᐱᒧᐦᑌᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᓂᔫ ᐁ ᐧᐄ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᓱᐧᑖᐤ᙮

    ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐃᑌᐦᒉ ᑳ ᒌᔑᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ ᑳ ᐃᔥᐹᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᐊᑐᔅᒉᐧᐃᓐᐦ (PSSS) ᐧᐄᒋᐧᐁᐅᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐᐦ ᐁ ᒥᔮᐧᑖᐤ ᔔᔮᓐᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᓱᔨᒡ, ᐁ ᓈᑎᒧᐧᐋᐧᑖᐤ, ᐁ ᐧᐋᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐄᔑ ᑖᓐ ᐧᐋ ᐄᔑ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓄᐧᐃᔨᒡ᙮ ᐆᔫ ᒫᒃ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᐧᐁᐧᐃᓂᔫ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᒥᔮᑲᓄᐧᐃᐧᑖᐤ ᐁᑯᓐ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᐧᑖᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᔦᔅᑯᐦᐄᓱᐧᑖᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᓈᑎᐧᑲᐤ ᐋᐸᑎᓯᐧᐃᓐᐦ᙮ ᐊᓂᒌ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐊᑲᓂᒡ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᑳ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑲᓄᐧᐃᐧᑖᐤ, ᑯᑕᑲᐦᒡ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᓱᐧᐃᒡ ᐁ ᒌᐧᐁᐧᑖᐤ ᐅᑎᔨᑖᐦᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᒡ ᐁᑯᐦ ᐁ ᑎᑑ ᐋᐸᑎᓰᐧᑖᐤ᙮ ᑲᔦᐦ ᑯᑕᑲᒡ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᓱᐧᐃᒡ ᐁ ᐊᑐᔅᑯᐧᐋᐧᑖᐤ ᐅᑎᔨᔭᒥᐧᐋᐤ, ᐆᑌᐦ ᐄᔑ ᑯᐯᒃ ᑲᔦᐦ ᑳᓈᑖᐦ᙮ ᐁᐅᒄ ᒫᒃ ᐁ ᒌᑲᓈᑯᐦᒡ ᐁ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᐧᑖᐤ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐁᑎ ᐱᐦᑯᐦᑕᒫᓱᐧᑖᐤ ᒉᐧᑳᔫ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐄᔑ ᒋᑏᐃᔩᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᓅᐦᒡ᙮

    ᐊᓐ ᐧᐋ ᐄᔑ ᓃᔥᑕᒥᔥᑖᔮᐦᒡ, ᐁᐅᒄ ᐆ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐹᐦᐯᔭᒄ ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᓯᑦ ᐁ ᓈᑕᐦᒃ ᐁ ᐃᔥᐹᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓂᔫ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᐱᐦᑯᐦᑕᒫᓲᑦ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐄᑲᓂᔫ ᐊᓂᔫ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑖᓐ ᐧᐋ ᐄᔑ ᓈᑕᐦᒃ ᐋᐸᑎᓰᐧᐃᓂᔫ, ᐁᑯᐦ ᒫᒃ ᒉ ᒌ ᐄᔑ ᐸᒋᔅᑎᓂᓲᑦ ᐅᑎᔨᔭᒻ/ᐄᓃᔭᒻ ᐁ ᐃᐦᑖᔨᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐋᐸᑎᓰᔨᑦ᙮ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐊᐧᐁᓐ ᓂᐧᐄᔖᒫᓈᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐯᐦᒋ ᐊᔨᒥᐦᐄᑯᔮᒡ, ᓀᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᒥᐧᑫ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᓰᐧᐃᓂᔫ᙮ ᐁᐅᒄ ᐊᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᐄᔑ ᒋᔅᑌᔨᐦᑕᒥᐦᐄᑯᔮᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐄᑖᐸᑎᓰᔮᐦᒡ ᐁ ᐱᐦᑯᐦᑕᒫᓲᐧᑖᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᑦ ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᐄᔨᔫᒡ/ᐄᓅᒡ, ᐁᑳ ᑲᓄᐧᐊᐸᐦᑕᒻᒪᒡ ᑖᓐ ᐁᑎ ᐃᐦᑎᑑᐳᓀᓯᑦ, ᑖᓐ ᐁ ᐃᓯᓈᑯᓯᑦ, ᓀᔥᑦ ᑖᓐ ᐁ ᐄᔑ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᑯᓯᑦ ᐁ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᐦᒃ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᓰᐧᐃᓂᔫ ᓀᔥᑦ ᒫᒃ ᒥᒄ ᑖᓐ ᑳ ᐯᒋ ᐃᑖᐸᑎᓰᐧᑫ᙮

  • Notre travail pour la réussite des élèves ne prend pas fin lors de l’obtention de leurs diplômes d’études secondaires. Grâce aux Services aux élèves de niveau postsecondaire et aux Services d’éducation aux adultes Sabtuan, les élèves cris ont accès à des ressources éducatives à chaque étape de leur voyage.

    Les Services aux élèves de niveau postsecondaire (SEPS) aident les élèves à naviguer dans le système d’études postsecondaires en offrant de l’aide financière, des services d’orientation et du soutien pédagogique. Ces services permettent aux élèves cris de se préparer pour des carrières enrichissantes en obtenant des titres professionnels ou des diplômes d’études postsecondaires. Les membres de la communauté qui profitent des Services aux élèves de niveau postsecondaire retournent souvent dans leurs communautés pour améliorer l’administration locale et répondre à des besoins locaux. D’autres représentent la nation crie dans des carrières qui contribuent à l’avancement de la société québécoise et canadienne. Leur réussite est critique pour atteindre les buts de notre communauté.

    Notre objectif est d’offrir la possibilité à chaque élève cri de poursuivre des études supérieures, d’acquérir des compétences et de devenir un contributeur compétent à la nation crie. Nous invitons quiconque qui veut poursuivre des études postsecondaires à communiquer avec nous pour obtenir des renseignements sur le soutien financier, scolaire et personnel. Notre mandat est de travailler pour la réussite de tous les Cris, peu importe l’âge, le sexe, les besoins particuliers ou l’expérience professionnelle.

More information about the PSSS here

Our Student Enrollment

634
Students

479 College | 112 University
43 Vocational

Academic Fields of Study

PSSS successfully implemented these Key Initiatives in 2016-2017

1.1 Determine the student population, profiles and needs for 2015-2021.

In 2015-2016, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Cree post-secondary student population, profiles, and needs. We analyzed the findings to better understand our students and their challenges. The statistical review, which included data on student progression, length of studies, program enrollments and return on investment, was presented to the Cree School Board Council of Commissioners in March 2016.

Our Strengths

  • A 45% increase in enrollment into preparatory programs between 2010-2011 and 2016-2017
  • Enrollment of a younger student body (15-29 years old) from all communities

Changes in Annual Student Enrollments

Our Weaknesses

Along with the above strengths, the review also showed us what we need to improve upon. Post-secondary withdrawal rates are a big focus and concern for the Cree School Board. The analysis found that over a 5-year period (2010-2015), 30 out of a sample study of 109 students completed their programs and earned a certificate and/or diploma. Over 50% withdrew within first year. Withdrawal rate has also increased in Access/Entrance programs.

By understanding these rates and speaking with students and receiving continuous feedback from students about their individual challenges, we were able respond to risk factors that contributed to high withdrawal. For example, special strategies were developed and implemented to ease transition to post-secondary education and urban living. We continue to develop and implement strategies and tools to support student success.

1.2 Actively motivate and engage students and their learning.

In 2016-2017, PSSS created an additional guidance counselling position to respond to student needs. This increased the number of Guidance Counsellors available to three. Guidance Counsellors help students face a variety of personal and health challenges. Their support allowed multiple students to overcome these challenges and obtain their degrees and receive various recognitions of high achievement.

PSSS continues to work closely with post-secondary institutions to offer support to students living in new cities across the country or abroad. We continue to provide on-site support to 297 Cree students at Algonquin College, partner with Youth Fusion at Cegep John Abbott, while students across the country were supported through distance and with our collaborations with 15 post-secondary institutions. We continue to provide the services of a 24/7 helpline for students when our support teams are not accessible outside working hours.

2.4 Foster an environment of life-long learning.

The student analysis shows our students are not academically prepared for post-secondary education. As a result, we have a strong need to bridge any gaps between Youth and Adult Education, and Post-Secondary Student Services.

In 2016-2017, PSSS worked with Sabtuan Adult Education Services to gather data, identify course gaps, and improve program offerings. This included a comparative analysis between the Cree School Board and other provincial education systems. The Cree School Board will use the results of this fact-finding to improve policies and offer academic preparation.

2.6 Establish and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with employers, industry and community groups.

One of our goals is to help students pursue careers that will help them become economically self-sufficient while contributing to Cree, Quebec, and Canadian societies. Through our partnerships with Cree employers, students are provided with information on the best opportunities as well as Quebec licensing requirements for jobs such as policing, nursing, and social work. The Cree School Board’s Adult Education and Post-Secondary Student Services and the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) have been working collaboratively to address their training needs for their employees and promote various professional positions within their organization. Current and prospective health sector workers are among the students who use our Adult Education Programs to seek general upgrading courses and earn a Secondary School Diploma. Once student have a Secondary School Diploma and have their necessary pre-requisites, they can seek vocational training programs with Sabtuan Adult Education or college-level programs, with the support of Post-Secondary Student Services.

When CBHSSJB employees obtain or upgrade their health sector qualifications, the whole community benefits from stronger health care services. This demonstrates the importance of community partnerships for Post- Secondary Student Services and the Cree School Board overall.

One of our goals is to help students pursue careers that will help them become economically selfsufficient

Our Next Steps: The Student Success Plan

The Student Success Plan was developed throughout the 2016-2017 school year and is being implemented for students starting in Fall 2017. This interactive tool will give students and their guidance counsellors a clear model to build an educational path to achieve their educational/career goal.

How does it work? The Student Success Plan creates a custom model that each student can follow. Each individual plan is designed based on the student’s educational interests, their career goals, and identify any personal or academic challenges that my interfere progression in their studies. We hope the Student Success Plan will help students feel supported throughout their post-secondary experience.

Next: Financial Report