Brock University is introducing a new bursary award to provide additional financial support to student-athletes who self-identify as either Black or Indigenous.

The Black or Indigenous Heritage Student-Athlete (BIHS) bursary aims to support student-athletes who demonstrate financial need and is not centred around athletic achievement.

“We are excited to introduce this bursary to help students who identify as Black or Indigenous achieve their post-secondary goals,” said Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lynn Wells. “These student-athletes have chosen Brock University for their post-secondary education, so we are pleased to do our part to help them succeed and achieve their dreams.”

The current amount of the BIHS bursary will allow for 25 awards of up to $2,000.

In 2021, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) published an Anti-Racism Report that detailed the uneven playing field between white and racialized athletes: white athletes were less likely to experience unmet financial needs than racialized athletes.

“The newly-established bursary award is an important first step for university sport in addressing the systemic barriers for our Black and Indigenous student-athletes,” said Melissa Krist, Director, Brock Sports. “We want to create a culture of Badger pride that shows our commitment to student-athletes’ academic and athletic success.”

The award is available to student-athletes who appear on eligibility certificates of an OUA-sanctioned sport at Brock.

Returning student-athletes must have achieved a minimum 65 per cent average during the prior academic year. New entering student-athletes require a minimum 80 per cent admission average or have achieved 65 per cent minimum average during the Winter or Spring Term of their initial year.

The registration deadline is Friday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. and eligible student-athletes can fill out the application form online.