N.W.T.'s Collège Nordique is officially an accredited post-secondary institution

Yellowknife's Collège Nordique is now an accredited post-secondary institution.

A news release issued Monday afternoon announced the college has officially been recognized by the N.W.T. government.

The accreditation means Collège Nordique, the only French-language post-secondary institution in the North, can develop and deliver programming through the government's quality assurance process.

It also means the institution can grant diplomas, while offering training adapted to the North.

Collège Nordique submitted its application to be accredited last October, according to the release.

Founded in 2011, the post-secondary institution is also now accredited as a private training institution.

"Our students will benefit from access to territorial student financial assistance, and we will work to ensure the transferability of our diplomas," Patrick Arsenault, Collège Nordique's executive director, said in the release. "While we are now empowered to develop and deliver our own programs, collaboration and partnerships remain at the core of our mission.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Caitlin Cleveland congratulated Collège Nordique on its accreditation.

"I am very pleased to be a part of this celebration for Collège Nordique and the territory's Francophone community for providing a comprehensive and structured learning model with dedicated services tailored to the needs of learners in the
North," Cleveland said in the release.

In the N.W.T., accredited schools also qualify for student financial aid.