This new program will allow the university to double its resources for academic supports such as peer tutoring and will provide customized support and resources to help students thrive at King’s and beyond graduation
The University of King’s College is pleased to announce the launch of a new Student Academic Support Program that will strengthen support for undergraduate students, including student-athletes and outreach for Black and African Nova Scotian, Mi’kmaq and Indigenous students, international and first-generation learners—those who often face more barriers to learning. The program, to be implemented in the 2026/27 academic year, will address both academic needs and long-term student development and is rooted in King’s commitment to equity and inclusion. It is being made possible through a generous $500,000 gift from the Alpha Aquilae Foundation, the family foundation of King’s Chancellor Debra Deane Little and her husband Robert Little. This gift fulfills one of the priorities of the current Future King’s campaign aimed at making a King’s education equitable and accessible by empowering student success and bolstering programs for student support.
“King’s is a warm and embracing community—and Bob and I are wholeheartedly behind the university’s goals to make it even more welcoming to a range of students and provide more resources to support them along the way,” says Chancellor Debra Deane Little.
This marks the fifth major gift from the foundation in seven years and builds on their 2023 gift that created the Deane Little Community Support Centre and their program of robust Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes at King’s established in 2019.
“We were thrilled to see how our son flourished as a student, athlete and person during his time at King’s,” says Robert Little. “So, we are very pleased to bolster the university’s exemplary efforts to provide a well-rounded and supportive environment that helps all students thrive, whatever their individual needs.”
Over the next three years, this new gift will allow the university to more than double its resources above existing supports to improve access to services like tutoring, says Chief Enrolment and Student Life Officer Kutay Ulkuer.
The gift allows for a dedicated Academic Support Coordinator who will work with students to help them develop effective learning strategies and skills that contribute to academic success, he adds. King’s will also hire and train senior students as peer mentors who will offer group study circles and one-on-one support tailored to individual needs. In addition, these mentors will also lead workshops on such topics as time management and financial literacy, helping students develop self-reliance and resiliency that will extend beyond graduation, says Ulkuer.
“Student well-being and success are at the heart of what we do at King’s. The more we support student’s academic and life skills, the greater their opportunities for success,” he says. “I see this as a pay-it-forward kind of approach that should pay dividends in many, many different aspects.”
This program aims to be available to students to help them meet academic goals and have the tools to thrive in and out of the classroom. It will also offer early intervention to those who may be struggling academically by connecting them to internal or external resources. Another key goal, points out Ulkuer, is reducing systemic barriers and strengthening students’ sense of belonging.
“Inclusion is at the heart of our educational mission,” says King’s President Bill Lahey. “And inclusion goes beyond opening our doors to more perspectives—we must listen and respond with changes for the better, to create resources such as this new program that best suit the requirement of our growing and changing community and provide students what they need to thrive.”
Ulkuer notes that the level of academic and skills support offered by this initiative is rare for a university of King’s size. “If a parent or a prospective student asks why they should choose King’s over university XYZ… I would say we’re doing everything we can in these challenging times to ensure student success.” Launching a program of this scale amid funding pressures and rising operating costs “is a statement of King’s strengths,” he adds.
Learn more about available Academic Services at King’s, including academic advising, coaching and tutoring.
For information on the Welcoming: The Future King’s campaign, please reach out to Director of Advancement Adriane Abbott at the University of King’s College Advancement Office at 902-422-1271.
