Building on a long-standing partnership and mutual commitment to being leaders in environmental research and teaching, Trent University and Fleming College came together today to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), marking a formal relationship between the two institutions to collaborate in both academic programming and research partnerships in areas related to environmental and natural resource studies.

At an event, hosted outdoors at Trent University earlier today, Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, and Dr. Tony Tilly, president of Fleming College, were present to sign the MOU along with Dr. Jackie Muldoon, provost and vice-president academic, and Laurel Schollen, vice-president Academic at Fleming College. Other attendees included: Dr. Stephen Bocking, director of the Trent School of the Environment; Dr. Linda Skilton, dean of the Frost Campus, Fleming College; Dr. Tom Whillans, professor in the Environmental and Resource Studies program at Trent, and Dr. Eric Sager, coordinator and faculty member in the Ecological Restoration program.

“We are very pleased to be signing an MOU with Fleming College which will strengthen and further an important partnership,” said President Groarke. “In the university sector, we are leaders in environmental study and research, as Fleming is a leader in the college sector. This agreement will combine our expertise and offerings in a way that will provide students with exceptional opportunities to pursue environmental studies and research.”

“Fleming College and Trent University have a longstanding relationship that goes back to the early days of each institution,” said President Tilly. “Through this agreement, we look forward to the opportunity to further advance our partnership with Trent in this sector. Creating more seamless pathways between Fleming and Trent will ensure students receive the best of both worlds – access to hands-on education in the field as well as theoretical knowledge.”

The partnership between the Trent School of the Environment and the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming College will provide students with more opportunities for applied learning through community-based projects, co-op opportunities, field camps and workshops. It will also see shared resources, including faculty and staff expertise, collaboration on relevant environmental events, conferences, and guest speakers, as well as the creation of new and innovative student pathways for students to easily transfer between institutions.

“This agreement is an exciting step for the new Trent School of the Environment,” said Professor Bocking. “We have enjoyed a long and productive collaboration with Fleming College, and this agreement will be the foundation for even more opportunities for our students to benefit from the wide array of environmental and natural resource programs offered by both institutions."

“Fleming has been a leader in environmental education for more than 40 years,” said Dr. Linda Skilton, dean of the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences and Principal of Fleming’s Frost Campus. “As such, we are constantly looking for ways to continue to advance - to improve and innovate. Expanding access for our students and faculty to new possibilities within Trent School of the Environment is an important aspect for our growth as an institution and further formalizes our existing, significant partnership with Trent.”

As long-time partners, Trent University and Fleming College have developed a range of collaborative efforts in programming and research such as the well-known joint Ecological Restoration B.Sc. program where students connect theory and principles with hands-on practical application. There are also numerous articulation agreements that offer a smooth transition for Fleming graduates into the many environmental degree programs offered at Trent and countless joint research projects, with the most significant collaboration in water quality research, through Fleming's Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment and Trent’s Institute for Watershed Science.

Fourth year Ecological Restoration student, Rob Monico is one of the students who has taken advantage of the collaboration between both institutions explaining, “I chose the Ecological Restoration program because I liked that it would offer me a practical skillset as well as a solid theory basis in the field of restoration ecology. Additionally, I liked the idea of being able to earn both my diploma and bachelor's degree within a four year period.”

Learn more about the Trent School of the Environment, and the School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming.