Introduction
Who are the Serving Scholars?
Serving Scholars are currently serving Canadian Armed Forces members, either in the Regular or Reserve Force, studying at a Canadian Post-Secondary Institution.
On top of their academic responsibilities, they also have a number of military duties which may include:
- Receiving, or instructing on military training
- Participating in exercises
- Deploying domestically and/or abroad
- Participating in ceremonial events (ex. Remembrance Day)
Some of these duties may conflict with their responsibilities as a student. Training, by necessity, is often stressful and challenging. And many of their duties take place away from home, and in remote locations with no access to the internet.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Serving Scholar Program is to bridge the gap between academic and military duties.
This is done by:
- Supporting servicemembers with academic consideration and flexible course selection when needed.
- Fostering cooperation and familiarization between the CAF and academic institutions through joint events, initiatives, and education.
- Promoting leadership, academic excellence, and professional development through experiential learning and awards.
- Planning and supporting events in remembrance of the fallen.
These objectives support the individual members, increase the post-secondary institution’s community ties, and also support the CAF’s retention and recruiting goals – a cooperative approach with the minimum of financial and administrative burden.
What are my opportunities as a Serving Scholar?
Academic and Examination Considerations
Both the University of Guelph and CAF have established policies that allow for academic consideration for CAF members who are unable to meet assignment or exam deadlines due to conflicts with military duties.
Contact servingscholars@uoguelph.ca for assistance.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
The University of Guelph offers five experiential learning (EL) courses to Serving Scholars, providing opportunities to engage in academic or experiential work connected to their military service for credit.
Serving Scholars also have the opportunity to have their writing published by the NATO Association of Canada as part of their experiential learning.
The following courses present serving scholars the opportunity to tie in their military service with academic courses for credit. This is usually accomplished via a supplementary project or research paper. For more information, including how to enroll in one of these courses, please contact servingscholars@uoguelph.ca.
- CLAS*3700 – Experiential Learning and Language (Summer, Fall, or Winter)
- CLAS*4150 – Research Paper in Classics (Fall, Winter)
- EURO*3700 – Experiential Learning and Language (Summer, Fall, or Winter)
- HUMN*3190 – Experiential Learning (Summer, Fall, or Winter)
Course Selection Accommodations
Serving Scholars can also elect to have the Registrar’s Office load them into their courses while they are away on military duties.
Contact servingscholars@uoguelph.ca
Financial Opportunities and Recognitions
The Serving Scholar Prize was established by Dr. John Walsh and Mrs. Mary Walsh to recognise the academic excellence and achievement of a graduating University of Guelph student currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The prize includes one bronze medallion + $1000 for the recipient. Runners-up (based on available funding) will also receive $1000.
Beginning in Fall 2025, the Serving Scholar Scholarship will also be available each year, presented to a serving scholar during their studies.
More information and application details can be found here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for the Serving Scholar Program?
Please send an email to servingscholars@uoguelph.ca with the following information:
- Name;
- Rank;
- Unit;
- Program of Study;
- Year of Study;
- University of Guelph Email;
- DWAN Email (if you recently enrolled and don’t have this yet, just let us know); and
- Student ID
Your identity will be verified and added to our tracker.
Contact Information
For general inquiries, please email: servingscholars@uoguelph.ca