New Program Offers Enhanced Opportunities for University

--- First-Generation, Aboriginal Students, and Others Benefit

(June 29, 2007, Thunder Bay, ON) Dr. Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University, today announced a special opportunity that will be available at Lakehead this fall. The new program called SAGE - a gateway to education, has been developed to help three distinct groups of students with the transition to university - new high school graduates, mature students, and Aboriginal students.

Mature Students or Students Missing a Science or Math Course

According to Dr. Gilbert, "SAGE benefits three distinct groups of students. One group comprises students who are missing a specific science or math course required to get into a science-based program. Under SAGE, these students will be able to study that science or math course at the same time they are completing other aspects of their degree. This may be especially useful for mature students and transfer students who have completed a College diploma." Dr. Gilbert emphasizes, "There are lots of opportunities for people with science-based degrees in growth areas like geology and mining, water resources, engineering, and the new areas of value-added forest products, in addition to the health care professions. Many people who have worked in the industrial sector have the skills needed to move into these areas, but they need the formal coursework to prepare for success. With SAGE, Lakehead University provides courses that will give access to higher-paying science-based careers."

New High School Graduates

Another group who will benefit from SAGE are the so-called "cusp" students. According to Dr. Gilbert, "There are students who graduate from Grade 12 who may lack a particular prerequisite to the program they're interested in, or their final high school grades may be just below the required 70%. SAGE will help those students by providing the coursework needed, along with enriched academic support and services, to enable them to come to university."

Dr. Gilbert notes that students still need to have 6 Grade 12 U or M courses to get into university in Ontario, but along with the regular courses, SAGE students will take a course in study and success skills, and will work with an academic advisor to help them through the transition.

Aboriginal Students

In addition to the above, building on the success of last year's redesigned Native Access Program at Lakehead University, Aboriginal students who are admitted as mature students to SAGE will be able to study as a group, a "cohort" of students who will have a peer tutor in their classes in science, English, math, indigenous learning, and study skills. At the end of the year, they will continue their studies within a degree program, with several academic credits already in place.

Access and Success

"For several years running, Lakehead has been recognized nationally as the #1 university in terms of value-added," said Dr. Laurie Hayes, Vice President Academic and Provost. "This reflects a superior level of both access and success for our students. This contribution to higher education was recognized this year by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), which has awarded Lakehead $400,000 to enhance transitional courses and services, especially for 'first generation' students, that is, students whose parents did not go to college or university." Dr. Hayes added that "SAGE is a unique program developed by Lakehead University; it builds on the success of Lakehead University's existing access and transition programs, and enrichment of its student development and advising services. Lakehead is regarded as a leader in the area of access and success. Students will receive special assistance in terms of becoming effective learners, with enriched academic advising. They will also be able to pick up the courses they need to follow their dreams."

Individuals interested in the SAGE program for this academic year or next should contact Lakehead University Admissions at 807.343-8500 or admissions@lakeheadu.ca.
Students interested in the Native Access Program should contact Gloria Hendrick-Laliberté at (807) 346-7709, or ghendrick@lakeheadu.ca

Media: Dr. Gilbert may be interviewed by calling 807.343-8200 directly, or the Office of Communications at 807.343-8177 or 807.343-8372.

For further information on this news release, please call Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807.343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca


About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca