Supporting Indigenous students

Now in its third year, the STEM Indigenous Academics (STEMInA) program is an academic support and community-building program for Indigenous students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) -based undergraduate degree programs at Queen’s University. Students are from the Faculty of Arts and Science, Engineering and Applied Science, and Health Science.

Kayla Bourdeau began her work as the program coordinator in May and this summer ran yet another successful Transition Week program, which has been a hallmark of STEMInA since its inception. Transition Week is an on-campus orientation program for Indigenous STEM students, held one week prior to general move-in.

Asked why she wanted to join Smith Engineering; Kayla explained it was all about bringing her experience to help new students. “I wanted to take my experience in post-secondary education, the ebbs and the flows, and the life lessons and be able to apply that in my job. I didn’t know what that would look like as a fresh graduate, but I knew I wanted to take what I’d learned at Queen’s and help students help themselves.”

Kayla had been working in Smith Engineering for about a year, so she was able to take what she’d learned in engineering and her degree in Biology from Queen’s University and use those experiences to help Indigenous students starting life at Queen’s University.

“What we are providing students with is great – we are developing a real sense of community,” she says. “When you are in first year, you have so much information coming at you – in the first few months leading up to the start of the year then in your first few weeks at the university. Bringing the students enrolled in the program to Kingston a bit early is important. They learn a lot about the university and get comfortable before classes start.”

During the year, STEMInA runs weekly study halls for students to study together in a safe space. As well as a monthy social where students can come to eat, relax, and chat. Pairing social and academics to create a sense of community with events such as STEMKwe (Indigenous Women in STEM) and Indigenous in STEM which also take once a month. She also provides tutoring and tutoring services, like CourseCram to students. As well as she is a Program Coordinator for some students in the newly piloted Research Experience Program.

As for goals, Kayla says she wants the students to be more involved in university life and she’d love to see growth in the program. “I’d like to see more students taking part in Transition Week and have more students involved in the program earlier in the school year.”  

With a focus on advancing the program, a new Research Experience program was developed for second and third year STEMInA Students. There are a total of 15 students, five from each of the respective faculties, and they are paired with STEM-based Researchers.

“We want to give students the opportunity to get hands on research experience in the STEM field and interdisciplinary research. The students and faculty are playing an integral part in shaping the program for the future.”

To learn more about the STEMInA program, visit the webpage.