ABOUT WESTERN

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the “Western Experience” - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

ABOUT US

The Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) works towards fostering a thriving student environment, to inspire Indigenous students at Western to realize their full potential through the provision of culturally relevant space, services, and advocacy that encourage wholistic and strength-based approaches to learning. The ISC fits under the umbrella of Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) which leads system-wide change required to advance truth and reconciliation efforts, achieve equitable outcomes for Indigenous peoples, and implement Western’s institutional and Indigenous Strategic Plan. The OII is committed to building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, and fostering an academic environment where all students, staff, faculty and community members experience the university as a welcoming, supportive, culturally-safe environment in which Indigenous languages, ways of knowing, being and doing are respected and supported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Western University is committed to improving Indigenous graduate students’ experiences and success in all disciplines. This role is a collaboration between the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Society of Graduate Students. The SAGE Coordinator/Indigenous Commissioner is a peer-based support network for Indigenous graduate students studying at Western. The role supports Indigenous graduate students to facilitate their transition, retention and completion of their studies. The role will also advocate for Indigenous graduate students within SOGS, the Indigenous Post-Secondary Education Council and various other campus initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship Building

• Strengthen relationships with Indigenous Graduate students and support a sense of community for students.
• Shall collaborate with SOGS VP Advocacy and Commissioners (Gender Concerns, Accessibility, Racial Equity and Inclusivity, and Pride) to take joint initiatives or host collaborative events by meeting at least once a term.
• Liaise with university departments and faculties at Western to support Indigenous Graduate student activities.
• Maintain regular communication with the Student Opportunities Coordinator and SOGS VP Advocacy by providing monthly updates.
• Keep apprised of Indigenous Student Centre support and programming by attending staff meetings.

Program Development and Management

• Develop a 2025-2026 program work plan that includes strategies to engage current Western University Indigenous graduate students in programming.
• Take a leadership role in coordinating all program activities, including setting a schedule and hosting monthly or quarterly peer-to-peer meetings, information sessions, workshops, social events, and collaboratively planning an annual Indigenous graduate symposium and writing retreat.
• Maintain program filing system and other duties relative to the program, including tracking student participation in all program-sponsored events and activities.
• Compile and maintain event and yearly reports with pertinent information for future coordinators
• Create and manage the program budget based on the developed work plan, which includes taking the lead on purchasing, honorarium payments, and invoices. The incumbent will have access to, in addition to the program budget, event funding through SOGs VP Advocacy and SOGs Event Funds.

Communications

• Take the lead in creating promotional materials for all program activities and responsible for rolling out promotions via Office of Indigenous Initiatives and SOGs channels
• Maintain regular contact with SAGE membership by managing SAGE listserv, sending member updates, and responding to email inquiries.

Advocacy

• Shall report to SOGS Council at least once a term and bring forward issues from their constituency to Council and the Executive as appropriate for action.
• Identify and participate in SOGS Committees that are relevant to advancing the needs of Indigenous graduate students.
• Represent Indigenous graduate student voices on the Indigenous Postsecondary Education Council (IPEC), which meets roughly 4-5 times per year.