The ARC Advisory Council (AAC) was formed to offer strategic direction for the advancement of the Aboriginal Resource Centre (ARC) mission which is to provide a culturally supportive environment that promotes academic excellence and the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical development of Aboriginal students.

To contact the ARC Advisory Council, email arc@uoguelph.ca

Responsibilities

With a goal of improving recruitment, access, retention, and success of Aboriginal learners at the University of Guelph the AAC will serve as a consultative resource on the academic and support needs of the University’s Aboriginal student population and on the development of a culturally responsive philosophy for the University as a whole.

The AAC will provide a circle to:

• offer strategic direction to transform the campus culture to honour and appropriately engage Aboriginal cultures and worldviews in order to contribute to a greater understanding of Aboriginal affairs in the unviersity community and wider society;
• promote the educational needs of Aboriginal students;
• advise on the recruitment of Aboriginal learners to post secondary education and the University of Guelph;
• advise on the development of Aboriginal specific programming to improve retention and academic success of Aboriginal learners;
• advise on new and existing programs and services provided by the University of Guelph that have a particular relevance for Aboriginal learners;
• through the Manager, review data and statistics on the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal learners to identify the priority areas;
• assist with the development and review the implementation of ARC’s Action Plan; and
• maintain a liaison with Aboriginal communities and educational organizations in order to raise the profile of education.

Membership (as of April 2013)

Kim Anderson, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Studies, Wilfrid Laurier Brantford/Adjuct Faculty and Alumnus, Department of History, University of Guelph

Rob Baldwin, Counsellor/Therapist, Counselling and Disability Services, University of Guelph

Jean Becker, Senior Advisor: Aboriginal Initiatives/Elder in Residence, Wilfrid Laurier University

Cora Bunn (Co-Chair), President, Grand River Métis Council

Mahejabeen Ebrahim, Associate Director, Human Rights and Equity Office, University of Guelph

Mark Lavallee, Employment Resource Coordinator (Guelph), Anishnabeg Outreach

Laurie Schnarr, Director, Student Life, University of Guelph

Natasha Smith, Aboriginal Program Coordinator, Student Life, University of Guelph

Véronique Roussel, Aboriginal Liaison, Student Life, University of Guelph

Anita Tucker (Co-Chair), Alumnus, University of Guelph

Cara Wehkamp, Manager, Aboriginal Resource Centre, Student Life, University of Guelph

Brenda Whiteside, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs, University of Guelph (as designate for Alastair Summerlee, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Guelph)

Undergraduate Representative/Aboriginal Student Association, University of Guelph (TBD Fall 2013)

Terms of Reference