In keeping with the tradition of caring and commitment to community upon which Mount Saint Vincent University was founded – and which remains at the core of the University today – MSVU has established a new President’s Student Relief Fund to help students address financial burdens caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund will provide emergency bursaries to help impacted students cover costs associated with housing, food, tuition, technology, mental health services and transportation. The fund will also be used to set up bursaries and awards for the fall term so that students can return to the classroom and new students can come to MSVU.

“Right now, our students need us more than ever,” said Dr. Mary Bluechardt, MSVU President and Vice-Chancellor, and fund founder. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our students have lost their campus community for an unknown amount of time and are facing great challenges in their educational journey. The challenges are even more significant for those who already face financial insecurity. Many students have also been affected by loss of employment or family impacts.”

Early donors to the fund include the MSVU Alumni Association, TD Insurance, Holloway Investments Inc. and every member of the MSVU management team.

“We have been working tirelessly to respond to the ever-evolving issues and impacts of the pandemic, and this is one more way in which we can extend much needed support to our students,” said Dr. Bluechardt.

Donations can be made online or by phone (contact Advancement Executive Director Denise Green at 902-497-0428). More information about how to donate is available online.

For students: How to apply

To qualify, students will need to be registered in the term during which they are applying.
All full-time students are eligible, as well as part-time students who have taken a minimum of 1.0 unit since September 2019. Bursary size will be based on need. Students can email financial.aid@msvu.ca for application information.

About Mount Saint Vincent University

As a leader in distance and experiential learning, and based on a strong tradition of social responsibility, Mount Saint Vincent University takes a personalized approach to education to nurture socially responsible global citizens. Founded in 1873, MSVU has been nationally recognized for having one of the lowest student-to-professor ratios, for providing students early access to valuable research opportunities, for its legacy in the advancement of women, and for facilitating critical advancements in food security, healthy aging, literacy, and childhood development.

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Media contact:

Gillian Batten
Director, Communications
Mount Saint Vincent University
902-441-0505