The Office of the President is asking University of Saskatchewan aboriginal students to officially identity as such online through PAWS in order to get a better sense of the aboriginal student population.

In an email sent to all students Feb. 2, Joan Greyeyes, the president’s special advisor on aboriginal initiatives, said that having accurate knowledge of the number of aboriginal students will help provide “high-quality learning opportunities that are responsive, flexible and accessible” to students of aboriginal heritage. She added that it will also help guide the university’s decisions concerning academic programming, student supports and scholarships.

“If you self identified when you applied to attend the U of S, you do not need to do so again. However, if you declared your Aboriginal status to your college, Aboriginal Students’ Centre or for scholarships, please consider self-identifying through PAWS,” the e-mail read.

As of 2011-12 term one, 1,632 students currently attending the U of S have self-identified as aboriginal. But Russ Isinger, registrar and director of academic services for student enrollment, expects there are still several hundred who either missed the opportunity to self-identify on the entrance application or have just chosen not to for personal reasons.

According to an information guide put out by the university, students can self-identify if they are First Nations, Métis, Inuit and also “persons who are accepted under the Indian Act by one of the Aboriginal peoples of Saskatchewan as a member of their community,” as defined by the Canadian Constitution of 1982.

Self-identifying is completely voluntary. To do so, students can simply log into PAWS, select the Academics tab, and in the Aboriginal Self-Identification channel click “Self-Identify” and fill out the application.

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Photo: On Campus News