At a time when women could not vote, Mount Saint Vincent was the only institution in Canada dedicated to higher education for women. The Mount has been admitting men since the 1960s, but the commitment to the advancement of women lives on—as does a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion through the Aboriginal Student Centre, the Black Student Support Office, accessibility services and 2SLGBTQIA+ resources. Last year, MSVU launched a tuition waiver program for former youth in care.

“To become the greatest version of yourself, you need to be nurtured,” says interim president Ramona Lumpkin. “MSVU’s excellent in-person and online degree programs meet you where you are and take you where you want to be. Graduates are creating change in the world and becoming leaders in their fields.”

The Mount now offers 11 undergraduate and graduate programs completely online. The Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research is home to programs and initiatives in women’s studies, business and tourism. At the Centre for Applied Research in Human Health, students can work alongside faculty researching public health issues, such as nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease. Class sizes are small, and profs really do know everyone by name. Students have early opportunities to conduct research in fields such as quantum chemistry, neuroscience and tourism. Personalized schedules provide flexibility, and co-op options deliver hands-on experience. Although it’s less than eight kilometres to downtown Halifax, the heavily treed campus feels like a retreat. Deer sometimes graze in the community garden, which was built to provide access to sustainably managed food.