UNB students in class of their own

Page R5

Schools in New Brunswick will be graced with a new flock of teachers this year.

The 1993 graduating class of the Indian Studies Program is letting go of four graduates. Rhonda Alaine, James Augustine, Beverly Googoo, and Newfoundland native Roderick Jeddore received their Bachelor of Education degrees this spring through the program.

The Indian Studies program features special courses appropriate to an Aboriginal educational program. It included courses on the Micmac and Maliseet languages and culture, presentations by elders and a home-base classroom and lounge area reserved for its students.

The Micmac-Maliseet Institute has offered educational programs for Native students and Indian bands in Atlantic Canada since 1981. The program now provides a transitional program for students needing qualifying courses.

The "bridging year" allows students entering degree programs to upgrade, following a reduced course load of four classes rather than the standard five or six. This allows students to focus on the preparatory upgrading as well as selected degree-credit courses.

Other proud students graduating from UNB this spring are Cathy Martin, of Restigouche, N.B., and Kathleen Madela, from Alberta, with a Bachelor of Education

and Bachelor of Law degrees, respectively.

At a different faculty, more Native students were celebrating a unique event.

For 12 students at the University of New Brunswick, graduating from the Certificate Program in Indian Management and Health Administration signified the successful conclusion of a brand new program.

"The program from which you are graduating is special too, because it contributes to the revitalization of an important segment of the health care system," said Dr. Tom Travis to the students. Travis is the university's academic vice-president.

The certificate program was created to increase management and administration expertise on reserves. During two years the students took courses on human resource management, financial administration, health assessment, planning and evaluation, and transcultural issues.