Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Branches Team has had to re-structure the Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students (IMPRESS) Program. We will be delivering the programming using online resources and have made changes to the program’s structure to adapt to this new reality. Despite this, we are still very excited about this program! We will now be able to offer the program to students from the comfort & safety of their home & community. In order to avoid confusion, we will be giving this online program a new name, Pick Your Path!
Program Overview
Pick Your Path! has the same mission of IMPRESS, which is to pique the interest of Indigenous students in education by offering an opportunity that gives exposure to various areas of study. Pick Your Path! (PYP) is an online learning experience for Indigenous summer students between the ages of 16-25. We will be providing students the opportunity to have a paid professional development and education experience from a distance. PYP students will meet weekly with an Indigenous post-secondary student mentor, with the program coordinator, and in a group setting. Additionally, students will attend online workshops and seminars led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals and professors.
Pick Your Path! Students are expected to commit ~10-12 hours per week for 4 weeks to this program. Summer of 2020, the 4- week period was from June 1 – June 25th, Monday – Thursday.
Students are expected to attend the following weekly activities:
- Complete weekly reading (~1 hour)
- Check in with program coordinator, discuss reading (~1 hour)
- Check in with Indigenous Student Mentor (~1 hour)
- Individual Project Work (~3 hours)
- 2 online Workshops/Seminars (~4-5 hours; 2 – 2.5 hours each)
Here's an overview of the PYP! Summer 2020 cohort:
How to apply:
- Complete online application form by 5PM (EST) Friday May 15th, 2020
- Participate in an interview with PYP coordinators via Zoom
