Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy: National Guidelines 2021 to 2022

Introduction

These guidelines include specific criteria supporting the terms and conditions of the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy.

These national guidelines are effective as of April 1, 2021 and replace the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy 2020 to 2021 Guidelines.

They are to be read in conjunction with the terms and conditions and the funding agreement signed by the initial funding recipient.

Local operating guidelines

Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy initial recipients may issue local guidelines, provided they are consistent with the terms and conditions of the strategy and the requirements set out in these guidelines.

Requirements for local guidelines are listed below. All initial recipients commit, as part of the funding agreement, to providing prospective applicants with ready access to the local guidelines.

Local guidelines refer to guidelines developed by each initial recipient that are specific to their particular circumstance and jurisdiction.

Initial recipients who choose not to issue local guidelines must nonetheless deliver a clear application process for students applying, which includes:

• determining their eligibility
• prioritizing the allocation of strategy resources

Initial recipients must make available up-to-date local guidelines and information about the processes for students applying for financial support and publish these online throughout the year.

Local guidelines and processes must, at minimum, include, but are not limited to:

• the application process and requirements, including all documentation required from applicant
• the process, including the assessment criteria, to determine eligibility and to prioritize the allocation of resources
• the funding process
• the rules and criteria for deferring applications in situations where there are more eligible applicants than funds available
• a formal appeals mechanism, including that students may not appeal to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC): the administrative decisions and appeal rulings are made by the local appeal process
• the requirements to remain eligible for financial support
• the maximum amount payable per student
• how to access the terms and conditions of the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy and these guidelines on ISC's website

Eligible activities

Eligible activities include all those related to the following 4 components of the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy: student financial support, programs and services, community engagement and governance or national coordination. Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• student financial support
  • transcript and application fees
  • tuition and other student fees
  • initial professional certification and examination fees
  • books and supplies
  • supplemental tutorial, guidance and counselling services
  • living expenses, including for dependents if applicable
  • transportation support, as needed
  • expenses associated with travel home, including for dependents, as applicable
  • child care, as needed
• programs and services
  • academic readiness and support
  • wraparound services to students and their families (such as mentorship or student-peer mentorship, Elder guidance, career counselling, student cultural support)
  • outreach and navigation services
  • cultural education and life skills development
  • information technology, and remote location access, to allow students the opportunity to complete distance education or online courses from their home communities
• community engagement
  • local sessions for prospective students about postsecondary opportunities, course offerings and program eligibility
  • facilitation of peer-to-peer transitions between prospective Inuit postsecondary students and alumni
  • creation of awareness by showcasing and celebrating the success of alumni
• governance or national coordination
  • data collection and management
  • needs assessment and analysis
  • engagement and partnerships
  • management of processes and systems to support delivery
  • development of culturally relevant content (curricula, as required)

Funding approaches for initial recipients

Transfer payments to Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy funding recipients may be made using fixed contribution or flexible contribution, depending on the eligibility of the recipient and of the service to be delivered.

Set funding may be used if the recipient so wishes.

The ISC officer responsible for the strategy can advise on the eligibility for these funding approaches, as well as on the requirements for managing the funds. The funding approach used to transfer funds to a recipient is identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.

The following specific program directions for managing transfer payments complement the directions provided in the recipient's signed funding agreement and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement.

Reporting requirements

The recipients will be responsible for completing an annual report that will be submitted to ISC education representative at Headquarters by June 30, 2022, that will cover the indicators that are stated in the strategy's terms and conditions. The report should include information on what was achieved under each component of the strategy that recipients received funding for.

The reporting requirements (program and financial reports) and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient's funding agreement and details on these requirements are available in the Reporting Guide.

Personal information

ISC's collection and use of personal information and other records for the purposes of targeted program reviews (for example, desk and on-site reviews) will be limited to what is necessary to ensure delivery requirements are met.

ISC is responsible for all information and records in its possession. The confidentiality of the information will be managed by ISC in accordance with the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21 and other related policies on privacy. Recipients are responsible for the protection of personal information as per applicable provincial privacy statutes and regulations and the recipient's policies up to the point that the personal information is transferred to ISC.

Accountability

ISC is committed to providing assistance to recipients in order to help them effectively carry out obligations under these guidelines and their funding agreements. ISC departmental contacts are available to answer questions and provide guidance related to ISC programs and strategies and funding.

Initial recipients must:

• deliver the strategy in accordance with the provisions of their funding agreement and the delivery requirements outlined in these guidelines
• ensure that the necessary management controls are in place to manage funding and monitor activities
• exercise due diligence when approving expenditures
• ensure that such expenditures are in accordance with the eligible expenditures set out in these guidelines

Contact information

For more strategy information, visit:

• Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy

You can also write to:

Education Branch
Indigenous Services Canada
10 Wellington Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4