Military and Veteran Friendly Campus
About the Military and Veteran Friendly Campus Initiative
A Military and Veteran Friendly Campus (MVFC) initiative was launched by the University of Alberta in February 2021 with funding from the Government of Alberta. It has been co-lead by the U of A’s Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) and the Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC) in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, in active collaboration with Veteran Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the greater community. The MVFC initiative will be sustained for the foreseeable future.
The MVFC initiative aims to (1) support the academic success of Military Members serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, Veteran students transitioning into the civilian world, and their families; (2) draw on the leadership and professionalism of Military and Veteran students for the public good; (3) co-design a shareable toolkit of best practices and policies with and for post-secondary institutions (colleges, polytechnics, universities), the Canadian Armed Forces, and Veterans Affairs Canada and broader community; and (4) establish a collaborative Alberta Military and Veteran Friendly Campus Network.
The U of A is evolving a system of support and services for Canadian military members and Veterans, and promoting proactive partnerships across service providers, between institutions, and with the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada and the greater community. To enable provincial spread and scale of MVFCs, the MVFC team is also co-designing a MVFC toolkit and building a provincial MVFC network.
Are you a military-connected prospective or current student? We can help you with:
- University transition and preparation: get assistance with prior learning assessments and recognition reports (PLARs), program information, applications, orientation programming, and academic readiness.
- Service navigation: access the information and services you need.
- Community: connect with other learners in the campus community.
- Assistance: contact us at mvfc@ualberta.ca if you encounter barriers or have questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find designated learning institutions:
- Alberta - This list of designated institutions in Alberta is updated regularly.
- across Canada
Military members and Veterans can apply for many programs offered by post-secondary institutions. Prospective students are encouraged to review admissions requirements and application deadlines as they vary by program and institution.
Career counselling is available through the U of A Career Centre or VAC Career and Transition Services . The Student Service Centre can help with any admissions, programs, and eligibility questions.
Interested in applying for post secondary education? See the Apply Alberta website and follow their steps of the application process
How do I apply to the U of A?
Interested in applying to the University of Alberta? Learn more about the admissions process.
Post-secondary institutions appreciate the wealth of experience military members and Veterans bring. Each institution and program handles credits differently. Some institutions can help you explore your prior learning assessment and credit recognition (PLAR) options.
At the U of A, the MVFC team can provide assistance. MVFC partners can learn more about PLAR by contacting mvfc@ualberta.ca.
Military members may be eligible for funding through the Canadian Armed Forces through education and training pathways.
Veterans may be eligible for the Education and Training Benefit through Veteran Affairs Canada. Veterans may also qualify for scholarships like the Alex Decoteau Scholarship of Honour , which are specially tailored to Veterans. After applying to a program, Veterans can fill out a single application and be assessed for scholarships and awards.
Scholarships and loans are also available to students. At the U of A, please see scholarships and loans
Several post-secondary institutions across Alberta and Canada have been providing support services to address the unique strengths and needs of military and Veteran students. As a demonstration site in Alberta, the U of A provides these students with wraparound academic, financial, social and mental health support that leverages existing services at the U of A and collaborates with the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada to ensure student success.
All current students, including military members and Veterans, have full access to existing student services available at the post-secondary institution in which they are enrolled. At the U of A, these include academic support, health and wellness services, as well as military and Veteran-specific student resources available through student services and the MVFC team.
Contact our MVFC team by emailing mvfc@ualberta.ca.
Meetings with Post-Secondary Institutions and Partners in Alberta occur each month. Please contact the MVFC team by emailing mvfc@ualberta.ca for more information.
The Canadian Military, Veteran and Family-Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C) meets every 2nd Friday of the month at 1200 ET / 1000 MT. Please see the CMVF3C website for further details or email cmvf3c@ualberta.ca.
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