Serving Scholars, including Caitlin Roberts (far right), who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces' naval reserves at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the University of Windsor on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (MIKE WILKINS/ The University of Windsor)
By Lindsay Charlton
Balancing military service with post-secondary education means navigating two demanding worlds — the right support can make all the difference, says Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member Caitlin Roberts.
The University of Windsor has received a $55,000 grant from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) to better support military-connected students like Roberts.
The provincial government is investing $575,000 across six Ontario post-secondary institutions through the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) project, which helps veterans and active military members turn the skills they developed during service into academic credit.
“When universities support military-connected students, they help create an environment where individuals can bring their diverse skill sets, leadership experience and discipline into new sectors of society while continuing to serve their country,” said Roberts, who serves in the Naval Reserve while working toward a bachelor of education. She hopes to become a high school math teacher.
The investment aims to make it easier and faster for veterans and other military-connected learners to transition to civilian life and find rewarding careers that reflect their skills and dedication.
“Initiatives like this demonstrate a commitment to recognizing prior experience, offering flexibility when needed and validating the non-traditional routes many military members take,” Roberts added.
Her experience in the Navy has given her skills such as leadership, teamwork and public speaking — all qualities she looks forward to bringing into her future classroom.
“My military service and my academic journey have complemented each other, reinforcing my commitment to teaching and to serving my community in a meaningful way,” she said.
As an officially designated military-connected campus, the University of Windsor created the Serving Scholars program to support students in the military. The program allows students to request academic accommodations when duty calls, ensuring their service commitments don’t set them back.
“Military-connected students bring tremendous value to our classrooms and communities, but their pathways to higher education often look different,” said Sheri Lowrie, recruitment and outreach co-ordinator in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
“By removing systemic barriers and recognizing the skills gained through service, we are affirming their place in post-secondary education. It’s about equity in recognition and opportunity, ensuring that every learner, regardless of background or experience, feels seen, supported and valued here at UWindsor.”
Lowrie has long been a champion for military-connected students, helping lead the Serving Scholars program and supporting the University’s membership in the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C).
Her connection to this work runs deep.
With a long family history of military service — including her brother’s role as a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Canadian Navy — Lowrie has a personal understanding of the challenges involved.
“Through his journey of returning to school while serving, I saw firsthand the barriers military learners face when navigating higher education,” she said. “As someone who works every day to help students find their path to success, I felt compelled to do more for those who give so much in service to our country.”
The ONCAT grant will offer an important next step in supporting these students, Lowrie noted, by mapping out clearer academic pathways that acknowledge their training and skills.
It also supports hiring a military-connected research assistant to guide this work through lived experience and strengthen partnerships with other institutions.