On June 24, President Bill Lahey joined other leaders from the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (CONSUP) and representatives from the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C) for a special signing ceremony of the first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will help military personnel and their families access higher education in Nova Scotia.
The MOU between CONSUP and CMVF3C assists military-connected learners across the province in gaining access to Nova Scotia universities and supports student success and well-being.
The signing ceremony, held at King’s, was attended by an extensive guest list, including The Honourable Brian Wong, Minister, Department of Advanced Education; Dr. Suzette Brémault-Phillips, a professor at the University of Alberta and CMVF3C Chair; Chris Palmer, MLA, Ministerial Assistant for Military Relations; Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic & Joint Task Force Atlantic and Brigadier-General Mark Parsons, Commander, 5th Canadian Division.
“Nova Scotia’s universities play a critical role in preparing learners for meaningful careers and supporting student success across diverse backgrounds,” said The Honourable Brian Wong. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring military personnel, veterans, and their families have access to high-quality post-secondary education, receive recognition for their skills and experience, and thrive in our classrooms and communities. By working together, we are expanding opportunities for members of the military community while supporting the continued growth of Nova Scotia’s workforce and economy.”
The Government of Nova Scotia reports there are 13,000 military personnel and 1,600 reservists in Nova Scotia—with more expected to come.
The MOU’s key actions include:
- Recognizing skills, training and qualifications acquired through military service to support academic pathways;
- Assisting military members and families who transfer between institutions as a result of postings or relocation; and
- Strengthening campus-based supports and services that contribute to student success and well-being.
Read the full CONSUP press release.
The Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (CONSUP), founded in 1982, is an informal body consisting of the presidents of the 10 public universities in the province. The objectives of the Council are to work for the improvement of higher education in Nova Scotia, to exercise leadership in matters concerning post-secondary education, to promote cooperation and interuniversity planning among those institutions listed in the membership, to be the channel of collective communication between the universities and the government, as well as between the universities and other bodies or individuals.
The Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C) is a national collaboration among post-secondary institutions (PSIs), the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), Military Members, Veterans, their families, and supporting organizations. The CMVF3C provides national convening and collaboration capacities through its network, supports PSIs intheir support of military-connected learners (veterans and others), and encourages signatories to its GuidingPrinciples to enable capacity-building for the Canadian Armed Forces.
