³Ô¹ÏÍø

March 14, 2025

From academic guidance and wellness supports to social events designed to build a strong campus community, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton students are benefiting from a suite of in-person and virtual services developed to help them succeed at university and beyond.

“Being a student at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton has been an incredible experience,” says Anousha Waqar, a first-year Computer Science student. “With great resources for academics, wellness and more, it’s easy to get the support you need to thrive.”

³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton offers students access to ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s full slate of student services. Whether academic advising, financial literacy, time-management, student awards, career development, or confidential counselling offered by the Student Wellness Centre, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton students can find the support they need.

Those supports are in addition to initiatives designed to build social engagement, campus culture and academic skills. Events including Keep Calm and Study On, a program that helps students de-stress when preparing for final exams; Thrive Week, a weeklong series of events to boost wellness; drop-in sports, where students socialize and compete with their peers; and social activities organized by the student-led Milton Student Leadership Council are helping students build a strong foundation for success.

Alicia Clarke, student affairs coordinator at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton, is often the first point of contact for students seeking information about services offered by the university. Clarke is happy to help, noting ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s intentional and flexible approach to service delivery.

“I'm available as a go-to for students with questions about accessing services,” says Clarke. “I can refer them directly to resources and I am based at the Milton campus, so students know they have a place to go with their questions or if they require support.”

³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Milton campus programming is tailored to local and commuter students to meet the needs of students in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area seeking to attend university close to home. Clarke says ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton offers a unique model of service delivery, providing students the option to access services in person or virtually.

“The hybrid model offers flexibility and ease of access for each student, because we know that there are students who really thrive on in-person connections," says Clarke. “We are primarily a commuter campus, so having flexibility in how students access the services is a benefit. Students can schedule service appointments or workshops in person or virtually, and we often have drop-ins at key times of the year for students to access after classes.”

Current Milton campus programs include Computer Science and Psychology, with elective courses offered in User Experience Design, Leadership, Criminology and Sociology.

Looking to the future, ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Business Technology Management program will welcome its inaugural Milton cohort in September 2025 and Software Engineering will start in September 2026 pending provincial approval.

Dan Taylor, academic advisor in the Faculty of Science, helps ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton students navigate academic requirements, including important academic dates and deadlines. Taylor is available to Milton campus students five days a week, including by email and virtual meetings Monday to Friday, as well as in-person appointments in Milton on Thursdays.

“With ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton first opening its doors last September, a lot of the academic support I offer revolves around getting students acquainted with being a student – how to select courses and understanding the requirements of their program,” says Taylor. “It’s helpful for students to have a check in to understand program requirements, or that there are options for them within their program.”

Like Clarke, Taylor sees benefits to the hybrid model of service delivery offered at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton.

“I think it’s a really valuable model and it’s a lot more accessible to students, especially as we see an increase in students who are taking courses online or completing program requirements online where possible,” says Taylor.

³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Milton campus is intentionally designed to allow students private spaces to access virtual services when needed. Each of the spaces offers privacy for personal conversations, away from the busyness of campus life.

“Maybe a student has booked an online appointment and they need a quiet space for the meeting,” says Clarke. “They can use a space on campus that’s open and accessible to them. This helps with the commuter lifestyle of some students and it means they’re not having to choose between coming in for class versus needing to attend an appointment.”

A key service for ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton students is provided by ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Student Wellness Centre, which works to promote health and wellness by creating a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental environment for students; providing confidential and comprehensive physical, emotional and mental health services; facilitating referrals to ensure optimal care; and empowering students in their wellness journeys.

Clarke says students also benefit from regular visits to campus by university departments including Service ³Ô¹ÏÍø, which provides service regarding admissions, student accounts, financial aid and student awards; Student Success, which provides academic supports including improving study skills and preparing for examinations; and the Career Development Centre, which runs in-person and hybrid career development sessions. She also notes a newly opened wellness program on campus called The Breathing Space, a quiet room where students can take a break and connect weekly.

Whether accessing services virtually or in person, Clarke says students have a support system to lean on at ³Ô¹ÏÍø Milton. She says the approach to student services at the campus will continue to be based on “meeting students where they’re at.”

“There are folks here to help guide students, to help support, as well as celebrate the wins and be there during any lows,” says Clarke. “Students know they can come to us with a question and know they’re going to get a follow up. We care about the students who are here and are working to build relationships and a sense of belonging.”