Nipissing University and Kenjgewin Teg partner to offer Indigenous Classroom Assistant Diploma Program

North Bay, ON – A new partnership between Nipissing University and Kenjgewin Teg has been formed to offer joint delivery of the Indigenous Classroom Assistant Diploma Program (ICADP), a program designed to support the success of Indigenous children in both First Nation and Ontario provincial schools.

“This new partnership contributes to our shared goals of advancing and increasing control of Indigenous Education as one of many Calls to Action made by the TRC,” said Stephanie Roy, President of Kenjgewin Teg. “Going forward, our local Mnidoo Mnising and surrounding communities will continue to see more opportunities in our teaching and learning programs for new and current educators, as we continue working together with partners like Nipissing University who support culturally relevant training and education closer to home”.

Upon successful completion of the ICADP, graduates are qualified to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students as classroom assistants under the professional direction of a classroom teacher and school principal. Classroom Assistants support teachers by helping to supervise activities in the classroom; working with children on an individual, small group or whole class basis. In some instances, classroom assistants work on a one-to-one basis with children with special educational needs.  

“We are very excited to be partnering with Kenjgewin Teg to enhance and expand the Indigenous Classroom Assistant Diploma Program,” said Dr. Arja Vainio-Mattila, Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research about the new partnership. “This program and the collaborative nature of its delivery underscores Nipissing’s commitment to providing accessible education to Northern learners and Indigenous communities.”

The ICADP consists of online learning as well as two, six week in-school placements. Recruitment for the program is underway with programming set to begin in January 2021. To qualify, prospective students must have completed a minimum of Ontario Grade 12 or equivalent. Candidates without grade 12 can be admitted if they are 20 years or older and have been out of school for two years or more.  Deadline to apply is December 1. 

Kenjgewin Teg is located on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island, ON) and is one of seven members of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium in Ontario providing Indigenous culturally relevant community-based access and lifelong learning for adult post-secondary students.

Nipissing University, located in North Bay, ON, is a young and dynamic institution known for offering one of the best undergraduate experiences among universities in Canada. As a small university, Nipissing offers a warm, friendly atmosphere, access to supportive professors and a personalized learning environment. Nipissing University is consistently ranked among the top in the country for student satisfaction, student support services, residence life and mental health services.

-30-

Contacts:

Meghan Venasse
Manager, Communications
Nipissing University
705-474-3450 ext. 4615
meghanv@nipissingu.ca

Beverley Roy
Director of Quality Assurance
Kenjgewin Teg
beverleyroy@kenjgewinteg.ca