[1] Eliot began his academic career by teaching at the University of British Columbia from 1957 until 1971, when he returned to the American School of Classics as professor of archaeology.
[4] In 1985 Eliot was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island, where he would oversee the opening of the Atlantic Veterinary College.
[4] A 1995 issue of Maclean's magazine quoted Eliot as having asked, "Who is going to accept a debt load of $20,000 to $40,000 to learn to appreciate poetry?".
[4] Upon receiving an honorary degree in 1999, a statement from St. Mary's University stated that Eliot's "advice and counsel is of enormous value in the shifting sands of academic life.
[5][4] In 1993 he received the Lescarbot Award from the Canadian Federal Government for contributing the most to the arts in his local community of Charlottetown, PEI.