Financial Support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Students and Black, Persons of Colour or Racialized Students

The University of Guelph has a long-standing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion on our campuses. One of the initiatives highlighted in the University's action plan is to create new awards for students who are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis as well as Black, Persons of Colour or Racialized Students.

If you are a First Nations, Inuit, or Metis student interested in applying to any awards below, please read about the Indigenous Student Self-Identification process and how to apply.

The Open Doors Program

The Open Doors Program provides a Research Honorarium ($1,000) for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students and Black students who are registered in a faculty-guided independent research project for credit at the 4000-level, including but not limited to independent study, independent research project, directed reading, and honours thesis courses. All disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Faculty-guided independent research provides students with the opportunity to develop research skills for academic success at the graduate level.

Participants who go on to pursue a thesis-based master’s degree at the University of Guelph within five years will be awarded a $2,500 Graduate Entrance Scholarship. Please contact grschol@uoguelph.ca for scholarship information.

Prior to applying to the Open Doors Program, students are expected to identify a faculty supervisor and complete a Course Outline.

Course Outline

Working with the faculty supervisor, students will create a Course Outline with a grading structure. The supervisor must also be available to meet throughout the semester to grade assignments and provide feedback. Please note that 20% of the grade must be in by the 40th day of class, and the final submission cannot be more than 50%.

Students who need assistance identifying a faculty supervisor can connect with Dr. Cara Wehkamp, Assistant Vice-President (Indigenous Initiatives), at cwehkamp@uoguelph.ca.

How to Apply

1. Complete the Open Doors Program Application Form including the upload of your Course Outline.
2. On the online application, all applicants are asked to indicate if they identify as a Black and/or First Nations, Inuit, or Métis student. There are no additional supporting documents required to confirm Black identity under the Open Doors Program. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis applicants are required to confirm their identity by completing the Indigenous Identity Confirmation Process for Students. Indigenous students who have previously completed the Confirmation Process do not need to resubmit.
3. Questions regarding the application form and the entrance scholarship can be directed to grschol@uoguelph.ca. All other questions regarding the Open Doors program should be directed to Dr. Cara Wehkamp at cwehkamp@uoguelph.ca.

Deadlines

Students who are registered in an eligible faculty-guided independent research project for credit at the 4000-level may apply by the following deadlines:

• November 1 for Fall semester projects
• March 1 for Winter semester projects
• July 1 for Summer semester projects