The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) has launched a new initiative that expands postsecondary opportunities for military-connected learners at many colleges across the province, including St. Clair College.
The project helps current and former Canadian Armed Forces members convert their extensive training and professional experiences into academic credits via a streamlined process for prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR).
ONCAT is awarding $330,000 in funding to help postsecondary institutions develop a credit bank of PLAR-eligible courses — which can be accessed by military-connected learners at several publicly assisted colleges across Ontario. The project is being co-led by Algonquin College and Fanshawe College, with the participation of Canadore College, Durham College, Georgian College, Humber Polytechnic, Loyalist College and here at St. Clair College.
"Military-connected learners contribute discipline, leadership and real-world perspectives to postsecondary classrooms and campuses," said Dr. Adrienne Galway, President and CEO, Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer. "ONCAT is honoured to support the development of a province-wide course credit bank that will reduce the time required for military-connected learners to earn a postsecondary credential and pursue their next career goal."
"Our government will always support those who have served our country with courage, dedication and distinction," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "Recognizing the valuable skills that military-connected learners have gained through their training and experiences will accelerate their transition to good-paying, in-demand careers that strengthen and protect Ontario's highly skilled workforce."
Students like Liam Dwyer, a sailor, third-class with HMCS Hunter in Windsor, Ont., a current student in the Electromechanical Engineering Technician – Robotics program at St. Clair College, say it's an important step for recognizing military-connected learners.
"It's meaningful to me. It's nice to know that institutions, my chain of command, where I work, is absolutely willing to support their members and what they need or what they want to pursue," said Dwyer, who hopes to take the skills he's learning at St. Clair into a career in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Omer Leghari, also a sailor third-class, is currently taking a gap year, but has studied Robotics as well at St. Clair.
"It feels really good because it feels like we're well supported. We have a good foundation, and we're doing something good, not only at the college itself, but for the country as well," Leghari said.
St. Clair College signed an agreement with the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C) this past February, reaffirming its commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.
That agreement is a new memorandum of understanding which represents a shared vision of inclusive, student-focused education. It also recognizes St. Clair College's commitment to supporting military-connected students through strategic partnerships and national collaboration.
St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi says this ONCAT initiative is a further extension of that dedication.
"Giving our valued service members opportunities to further their education opens up tremendous doors, complementing and enhancing the skill sets they've already acquired in the military," said Michael Silvaggi, President of St. Clair College. "This initiative breaks down barriers and provides better access to post-secondary education to help our military-connected learners pursue their next education and employment goals."
ONCAT support for military-connected learners
Although military-connected learners receive comprehensive training through the Canadian Armed Forces, they can face barriers having their technical, leadership and organizational skills and competencies recognized by postsecondary institutions.
In addition to the credit bank of PLAR-eligible courses, ONCAT continues to support various initiatives that expand postsecondary opportunities for military-connected learners:
- funding projects at seven publicly assisted colleges and universities across Ontario, for activities that help military-connected learners leverage their training and experiences (Read about a recent ONCAT-funded project)
- enhancing ONTransfer.ca — an online guide used by more than 200,000 people each year — with information that allows military-connected learners to identify their education and employment options (Learn more)
- recommending evidence-based policies for improving the recognition of military education and training (Read the report)
- sharing effective practices that bolster the success of academic transitions for military-connected learners
- providing free access to resources for postsecondary institutions — like a course on "Understanding a Military Personnel Records Resume" — that streamline admission processes for military-connected learners
- participating in pan-Canadian networks — like the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C) — to advance initiatives that facilitate mobility between the Canadian Armed Forces, postsecondary institutions and the labour market
Ontario is home to over 149,000 veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces. Each year, approximately 9,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from military service, at an average age of 40. This initiative could help expedite the process of obtaining credentials to help them re-enter the workforce.
