Helping Ontario students succeed: ONCAT funds innovative project at Loyalist College to support post-secondary learner mobility

Belleville, ON, June 25, 2025 – On June 4, 2025, Dr. Adrienne Galway, President and CEO of the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT), announced funding to support projects that help students access post-secondary opportunities across Ontario’s public colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes. From April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, ONCAT awarded $2.04 million in funding for 29 institutional projects.  

Loyalist is the lead on the Engaging Faculty to Support Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition project that creates resources that support faculty engagement with policies and practices related to Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). By expanding PLAR awareness across the institution, this project will promote flexible, responsive and equitable access to post-secondary education.

Loyalist College’s project will strengthen faculty involvement in PLAR by developing practical resources and increasing institutional awareness. This work builds on the college’s commitment to flexible and accessible learning pathways that recognize learners’ prior knowledge and experience. 

“ONCAT’s funding for institutional projects will reduce barriers and smooth transitions for learners,” said Dr. Galway. “We prioritize innovative initiatives with the potential to scale or be adopted across institutions, that help learners successfully navigate their academic journey and receive appropriate recognition for previous academic and work experience. Our mission is to ensure that learners complete their postsecondary credentials and transition successfully into the workforce.” 

“At Loyalist College, we’re committed to removing barriers and creating flexible, learner-centred pathways to post-secondary education,” said Dr. Amanda Baskwill, Loyalist College Senior Vice President Academic and Chief Learning Officer. “Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) plays a vital role in this, ensuring that students receive credit for the knowledge and skills they already bring to the table. By engaging faculty in PLAR practices, we’re fostering a more inclusive and responsive academic environment. We’re grateful to ONCAT for their continued support and investment in initiatives that strengthen learner mobility across the province.” 

“Our province’s postsecondary education programs are building Ontario’s workforce of today and tomorrow,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Our government is proud to support ONCAT and their critical efforts to reduce barriers for students looking to get the training they need to begin successful careers that meet our province’s labour market needs.”  

For a complete overview of 2024-25 ONCAT-funded institutional projects, visit oncat.ca, ONCAT NEWS.  

About ONCAT 

Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) plays a pivotal role in supporting learner mobility, working to support students seeking to move between the province’s public colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes. ONCAT partners with postsecondary institutions to help establish academic pathways, facilitate recognition of prior learning, and support learners’ transition into the labour market. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario. To learn more, visit oncat.ca. 

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities. 

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com