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Student Employment Initiative

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What is the Student Employment Initiative (SEI) Program?

Funded by the Nova Scotia Provincial Government and the CIBC Accessible Student Employment Program, the Student Employment Initiative (SEI) is a year-round program that supports Nova Scotian and Canadian domestic Saint Mary's students, as well as recent alumni (up to 6 months post-grad), across all faculties and program levels with accessibility needs in securing employment contracts both on and off campus.   

Working with SEI staff, employers can plan, prepare, and be confident in their ability to offer an open, supportive and welcoming work environment for students with disabilities while receiving a 50% wage subsidy. This program is offered year-round for part-time and full-time work or volunteer placements.

Additional Information

  • All SEI employers receive a 50% wage subsidy (in the form of a reimbursement) 
    • Charitable organizations and not-for-profits are eligible for a 75% wage subsidy if financial need is expressed
  • SEI covers additional accommodation costs required as per each student’s individual needs (e.g., assistive software, office furniture, etc.)
  • Create meaningful job opportunities for qualified candidates and foster diversity and inclusion in your work environment

Employer Testimonial:

Dr. Claudia De Fuentes, Associate Professor, Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, shared the following regarding their experience in hiring an SEI student over the past year: 

“I am very happy with the [SEI] Program, and I am definitely thinking about hiring SEI students in the future according to needs that come up within my future initiatives.  

I believe there should be more dissemination about the opportunities of this Program. For employers, it is also important to see the impact that this Program is generating for students. The student I hired through SEI is very committed to developing high quality outputs and continually meets and exceeds my expectations. They are very reliable and punctual.” 

If you would like to share a position through the SEI Program, or learn more about the process, you can begin by reaching out to the Program Lead at sei@smu.ca with your availability for a meeting. 

In addition to the above, SEI employers must: 

  • Determine a fixed rate of pay and provide orientation and training  
  • Accommodate a Mid-Point check-in meeting with the SEI Program Lead 
  • Cover employer-related costs (e.g., EI, CPP, etc.)  
  • Sign an SEI employment contract and complete invoicing form(s) for your wage subsidy reimbursement 

It is important for you and your staff to stay up to date with the most recent best practices regarding accessibility. This article from the government of Canada will cover steps, tools, and resources for keeping your work environment inclusive. Additionally, this document has 5 examples to help you discover if an individual would be more successful with accommodations.  

For further support and guidance, please contact us at sei@smu.ca.  

  • In addition to paid roles, SEI also routinely shares volunteer & professional development opportunities with students in our monthly newsletter
  • 60% of workplace accommodations have no cost associated with them! E.g., flexible schedule, written instructions, assistive technology, etc.  
  • SEI students come from many academic backgrounds and have various levels of experience! We have students from the Faculty of Arts, Commerce, and Science seeking part-time employment for the fall and winter and full-time during the spring and summer months
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