Academic Calendar 2021-2022 - Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College
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Academic Calendar
2021-2022
18 Karol Wojtyla Square, P.O. Box 249
Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada K0J 1B0
Ph: 613-756-3082 • Toll-free: 877-369-6520
www.seatofwisdom.ca
Email: info@seatofwisdom.ca
This institution has been granted a consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this
program for a six-year term starting May 1, 2017. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying for
themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g., acceptable to potential
employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions.)August 2021 The Academic Calendar is published annually by the Office of the Registrar. A copy is available online at www.seatofwisdom.ca in its entirety. Each student at SWC is responsible for knowing and observing the policies, procedures, and regulations contained in this Calendar as well as additional policies or changes in policy officially distributed during the 2021-2022 academic year. Addendums to the Calendar are posted online throughout the year. Disclaimer: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College reserves the right to change any provision, program, regulation, or requirement at any time. In the event of a policy change, deletion, or addition, every attempt will be made to notify students through any or all campus communications.
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT
Dear Students,
We are pleased to welcome you to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. In
this time of uncertainty due to COVID-19, you are stepping out in faith
and choosing to devote yourself to studies in the liberal arts—perhaps an
apparently strange choice. Why, when the world is in transition, would
you choose to do something as seemingly impractical and “non-essential”
as engage in the pursuit of academic knowledge? There are many answers
to this question.
In times of rapid change, we need people who can reflect calmly, see the
big picture, and draw conclusions based on reason working with the
available evidence. An academic training in History, Philosophy,
Literature, Classics, Theology, and the like gives individuals this attitude and skill set, making them
highly valuable members of society.
Also, at a time when people in society are increasingly isolated, we need to build community in
whatever ways are safely available. Here at SWC, we are building a community of Catholic scholars,
people who exchange ideas and insights, “break bread” together (at least in our residences), and pray
together. We are blessed to have a parish that is open for Masses, and we take advantage of other
opportunities for prayer, such as frequent adoration, rosaries, and chaplets. We also have priests
available for spiritual direction and confession. The world needs prayer more than ever, and we are
privileged to have access to excellent means and helps for prayer as a community.
As we discussed at our recent Wojtyla Institute summer conferece devoted to the theme, “‘Only
Connect’: Alleviating Loneliness Through the Liberal Arts,” studying of the liberal arts can be a
source of hope and joy, connecting us to one another and to God through the shared pursuit of
truth.
We rejoice that you have come to join us in this pursuit, sitting at the feet of the “Seat of Wisdom,”
Mary, Mother of Our Lord. May your time here be truly blessed.
In Christ,
Dr. Christine Schintgen
Interim President of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom CollegeTABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT DATES | 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 2 2 6/ACADEMIC PROGRESS 27
1/ABOUT SWC 4 6.1 Grading Policy .............................. 27
1.1 Location .......................................... 4 6.2 Aegrotat Grades ............................ 28
1.2 History............................................. 4 6.3 Academic Honours ....................... 29
1.3 Governance and Academic 6.4 Academic Warning, Probation, and
Structure ......................................... 4 Dismissal ....................................... 29
1.4 Mission and Values......................... 5 6.5 Grade Appeals Policy .................... 30
2/STUDENT LIFE & SERVICES 8 6.6 Examinations ................................ 31
2.1 Spiritual Life ............................................... 8 6.7 Final Examination Copies ............ 31
2.2 Academic Services ...................................... 9 6.8 Transcripts .................................... 31
2.2.1. Library ................................................ 9 6.9 Access to Student Records and
2.2.2. Academic Advising ............................ 9 Privacy of Information Policy ....... 32
2.3 Student Services ....................................... 10 6.10 Institutional Closure..................... 33
2.2.3. Counselling...................................... 10 7/FINANCIAL POLICIES 34
2.2.4. Vocational Testing........................... 10 7.1 Fees ....................................................... 34
2.2.5. Tutoring ........................................... 10
7.1.1 Fee Payment Schedule .................. 35
2.3.1 Policy on Students with Disabilities 11
7.1.2 Family Discount Plan ................... 35
2.3.2 Policy on Students with Disabilities 11
7.1.3 Outstanding Accounts .................. 35
3/ADMISSIONS POLICIES 12 7.2 Refund Policy ....................................... 36
3.1 Requirements for Regular Admission ..... 12 7.2.1 Refund Schedule........................... 36
3.2 Categories of Admission .......................... 15
7.2.2 Deposits......................................... 36
3.3 Application Procedure ............................. 16
7.2.3 Claims Against Security ................ 36
3.4 Credit Transfer and Prior Learning
Assessment ............................................... 17
7.3 Financial Aid ........................................ 37
7.3.1 Work-Study Program .................... 37
4/ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS 7.3.2 Bursaries ........................................ 37
& ETHICS 20 7.3.3 Awards ........................................... 38
4.1 Classroom Expectations and 7.3.4 Scholarships .................................. 38
Absenteeism Policy ....................... 20
8/ACADEMIC PROGRAM 41
4.2 Authority of Instructors................ 20
8.1 Basic Certificate of Christian
4.3 E-mail Policy.................................. 20
Humanities .......................................... 41
4.4 Academic Honesty ........................ 20
8.2 Associate Certificate of Christian
4.5 Intellectual Property ..................... 23
Humanities .......................................... 42
5/REGISTRATION 24 8.3 Bachelor of Catholic Studies and
5.1 Course Registration ...................... 24 Certificate of Christian Humanities ... 43
5.2 Student Classification................... 24 8.3.1. Core Curriculum Schedule ....... 44
5.3 Numerical Classification of 8.3.2. Concentration Requirements .... 45
Courses.......................................... 24
9/COURSE OFFERINGS 47
5.4 Credit Hours ................................. 24
9.1 Classical and Early Christian Studies .. 47
5.5 Course Load.................................. 24
9.2 History .................................................. 48
5.6 Adding Courses ............................ 25
9.3 Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences .. 51
5.7 Dropping and Withdrawing from
9.4 Literature .............................................. 56
Courses.......................................... 25
Mathematics and Natural Science .............. 60
5.8 Auditing ........................................ 25
9.5 Philosophy ............................................ 61
5.9 Directed Studies............................ 25
9.6 Theology ............................................... 64
5.10 Qualifying for Courses and
Concentrations ............................. 26 10/BOARD, ADMINISTRATION
5.11 Repeating Courses ........................ 26 AND FACULTY 69
5.12 Incompletes ................................... 26 Appendix A: Learning
5.13 Changing Graduation Objectives 73
Requirements................................ 26 Appendix B: Student Rights 75
5.14 Withdrawing from the College .... 26IMPORTANT DATES | 2021-2022
SEPTEMBER 2021
Sun. Mon Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat.
1 2 3 4
5 6 Labour Day 7 Classes 8 9 10 11
begin
12 13 14 15 Day of 16 17 18
Recollection
19 20 21 Last day 22 23 24 25
to add Fall
courses2
26 27 28 29 30
OCTOBER 2021
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5 6 Last day to 7 8 9
add Full-Year
courses2
10 11 12 Monday 13 14 15 16
Thanksgiving schedule
17 18 19 20 Last day to 21 22 23
drop Fall courses3
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
NOVEMBER 2021
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 Friday 19 No 20
schedule classes
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
DECEMBER 2021
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 Study Day 11 Exams
begin
12 13 Exams 14 Exams 15 Exams 16 Exams 17 Last day 18
of exams and
end of
semester
¹Bold type indicates no classes
²Changing an Audit to an Add: A student auditing a course may opt to add the course at any time before the first
preliminary examination, the due date of the first paper, or halfway through the course (the final drop date), whichever
comes first.
³Exception: Courses that have not held a mid-term examination by this date. In such cases, a student has until two days
after receiving a mid-term mark to withdraw from a course. See Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses, p. 25, for the
full policy.
2JANUARY 2022
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 New Year’s
Day
2 3 4 5 Classes 6 7 8
begin
9 10 11 Last day to 12 13 14 15
drop Full-
Year courses3
16 17 18 19 Last day to 20 21 22
add Winter
courses2
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
FEBRUARY 2022
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 Last day to 17 18 19
drop Winter
courses3
20 21 Family Day 22 23 24 25 26
Reading Week
27 28
MARCH 2022
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2 Ash 3 4 5
Wednesday
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Martyrs’
Shrine
pilgrimage
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
APRIL 2022
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 Study Day 14 Exams 15 Good 16 Holy
Friday Saturday
17 18 Easter 19 Exams 20 Exams 21 Exams 22 Exams 23 Exams
Monday
24 25 Last day of 26 27 28 29 30
exams and end Graduation
of semester
31/ABOUT SWC Our Lady Seat of Wisdom offers a Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree in addition to one-, two-, and three-year programs in the classical liberal arts at a post-secondary level, with a special emphasis on the Tradition of the Catholic Church. We offer courses in theology, philosophy, history, literature, classical and early Christian studies, mathematics, natural science, the social sciences, languages, music, and the fine arts. These studies help to deepen the student’s appreciation of the richness of the Catholic faith, and offer the intellectual tools needed to be an effective apostle in the third millennium. SWC is a registered charity in Canada, #88720 8122 RR0001. Degree-Granting Status SWC received official degree-granting authority from the Province of Ontario on May 1, 2017 to confer a three-year Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree. 1.1 Location Overlooking Kamaniskeg Lake in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada, the College is situated amidst the natural beauty of the Madawaska Valley. A short drive from Algonquin Provincial Park, students are well placed to enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, skating and skiing. Both Ottawa and Toronto are accessible within a few hours. 1.2 History A Catholic liberal arts post-secondary institution here in Canada has been an aspiration and an ideal in the minds of many in the Madawaska Valley. In the Jubilee year of 2000, the Diocese of Pembroke, which supported the project of a Catholic college, offered the use of the former Saint Joseph’s convent, located in Barry’s Bay just north of Combermere. That fall, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom began its official inaugural year, with nine students and a handful of instructors. We gathered what furniture we could, housing the students in the upper level of the convent and in a rented house. The original curriculum of basic courses in introductory theology, philosophy, history, logic and Latin, still provides the basis for our now much-expanded course of studies. Each year since then we have grown, hiring more instructors and staff, and renting or building more housing, to accommodate our growing student body. After three years of operation, we began a second year of studies, and, in 2004, a third. SWC awarded the three-year certificate for the first time in April 2005, and its first Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree in May 2017. We have now begun to develop, with the Ontario government’s encouragement, a four-year honours program. We submitted our plan for approval to the government in August 2021. Our gifted faculty has grown to a sizable group of professors in a variety of disciplines, and we have attracted students from across Canada and from more than thirty American states, as well as from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. 1.3 Governance and Academic Structure Our Lady Seat of Wisdom is governed by a Board of Directors and an Academic Senate. Together, these groups ensure that the College delivers on its mission to provide a Catholic liberal arts education faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Board of Directors is the highest point of authority, providing guidance and direction in every area of the life of the College. Various sub-committees, each chaired by a member of the Board of Directors, assist the Board in carrying out these functions in specific areas (such as Finance, and Student Life), making recommendations for the Board’s approval. The President, the Academic Dean, the Faculty Representative, the Senate Representative, and the Student Representative are all executive members of the Board of Directors. The Academic Senate serves to ensure that SWC fulfills its goal of providing an education of the highest quality. The Senate consists of both internal faculty members and members of other academic institutions who are known for their sound judgment and expertise and who support our 4
mission. A student of the College is also elected to the Senate by the student body to ensure that
student concerns and insights are duly considered.
1.4 Mission and Values
Mission Statement
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom provides a post-secondary education in the liberal arts within the Catholic
tradition. Faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and guided by Ex Corde Ecclesiae, SWC
seeks to form the whole person, especially intellectually and spiritually, while respecting the freedom
of the individual. Our curriculum offers a deep and wide-ranging understanding of Western
civilization along with the traditions of the Church, and equips students to engage with and critique
contemporary culture.
Vision
Under the mantle of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, we will provide a vibrant Catholic liberal arts
education that integrates faith and reason in all of its disciplines, embraces Divine Revelation, and
is rooted in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
Our students will be nourished in a thriving Catholic culture that, with the grace of the Holy Spirit,
will lead them to answer God’s call to transform the world through their witness to the saving power
of the Truth Who sets us free, Jesus Christ.
Values
We recognize that what is truly valued most in a society influences all other aspects of that society.
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission.” For Catholics, the
Eucharist is a criterion for our evaluation of everything that we encounter. Eucharistic spirituality
“embraces the whole of life” (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 77-78).
Obedience
We are obedient to Christ through the authority of the Church.
Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Research
In our pursuit of excellence in education, we ensure that the teaching provided is of the highest
quality. We are committed to offering an integrated program that features a strong core curriculum
in the Catholic tradition of the liberal arts, but that also allows students to pursue individual
intellectual interests. By ensuring both depth and breadth, we encourage students to see the greater
context of what they are learning, and to approach the pursuit of truth as a life-long endeavour. Our
small classes are intended to ensure interaction between students and faculty, and among students
themselves. Students are to pursue their studies in a conscientious and responsible manner. Faculty
are to conduct research in order to enrich their teaching and to engage in dialogue amongst
themselves and with the broader academic community.
Holiness
Union with God is the ultimate goal of our life, and is achieved by the life of holiness, the life of
ever more perfectly knowing, loving, and serving God. Our transformation is the work of the Third
Person of the Holy Trinity. As Catholic scholars, we impart the truths of Divine Revelation included
in Church Tradition and Teachings, which form a basis for the spiritual life in which the Holy Spirit
accomplishes our transformation into holiness. Union with Christ is approached most efficaciously
by worship and reception of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Mass, encounters which are
prolonged and deepened in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Prayer enables kenosis or emptying
of self so that “I must decrease and Christ must increase.” Our faculty, staff, and students choose a
life of holiness, and we will do all we can to encourage and support one another to “be perfect as
[our] heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). The ways of holiness are many, and we will provide
support and encouragement according to the vocation of each individual by teaching, example,
spiritual direction and the fullness of the sacramental life, including employing the Sacrament of
Reconciliation to maintain the entire academic community in the state of Grace. Thus, holiness will
enter into every aspect of our life as each individual strives to perfectly know, love and serve God.
5Charity Knowing about God must be coupled with our active love of God and neighbour. As St. Paul reminds us, possessing all knowledge, understanding and eloquence is meaningless without love. Mindful of this, we recognize each person as a son or daughter of God who reflects His image and likeness, worthy of inestimable dignity. As such, students and faculty are expected to express charity in word and deed, ministering to the Lord present in each other. Incarnating the generous love of Christ, who commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves, we hope to cultivate compassion toward the human family at large. “Love is the fulfillment of all our work…” –St. Augustine. Service “To learn…to love…to serve” “What good is it, my friends, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (James 2:14) By their baptism, all are called to exercise their faith for and with those who surround them. Faith is expressed in liturgy and also in works. Through their witness to Christian values, all members will be to those around them a light, a ray of hope and a fount of love. We will offer our students and staff the opportunity to exercise their faith in concrete forms such as the ministries of music, art, help to families, to the sick and the elderly, liturgy/chapel and catechesis, to name a few. We will be to the surrounding community a source of support and a model of Christian living not so much by who we say we are, but by who we really are. Community Community is founded upon a shared pursuit of a common good. A Catholic community is united by its desire to give glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is built on the person of Jesus Christ, imbued with His Holy Spirit, and nourished by the sacramental life of the Church. As a Catholic academic community, we pursue a deeper knowledge of the truth, both natural and revealed, and we provide an atmosphere animated with love and reverence for God and others. This entails conforming ourselves daily to the image of Christ and recognizing His Kingship in every activity. United in our mission of mutual sanctification, we are to see the face of Christ in each member, being mindful of our responsibility to serve one another, the community at large, and the Mystical Body of Christ. Freedom An academic community naturally serves freedom, the ability to pursue the good, by removing ignorance. Ignorance of the good and the proper means of pursuing the good is a greater constraint upon an individual than anything that might be imposed from without. The removal of external constraints to the pursuit of the good is also of value. We seek to ensure that our community does not impose undue impediments, such as intellectual, moral, or financial ones, upon its students and staff in their pursuit of what is truly good, but always encourages them along the path of true freedom. Our community, apart from its academic aspects, promotes freedom by encouraging a desire for what is truly good, and opportunities to seek true goods. This internal desire for the good, coupled with a knowledge of the good, results in individuals who are truly free. Justice Justice is the rendering to each what he is owed. As all that we have is from God, justice toward God demands a continual striving to live in accordance with the Divine order. Justice toward our fellow creatures involves giving to those to whom we owe what we owe at the appropriate time. Justice toward God, however, demands a more generous approach toward one’s fellow man: while delivering what one owes from a human perspective, one must also ask if one may advance God’s order by giving more, and so, gradually, lay down one’s life for one’s friend. We are committed to treating all people according to their inherent dignity, giving them their due, and in turn expect them to deliver good and honest work. We are also committed to providing a sound philosophical and theological formation, which, along with the experience of an authentic 6
Catholic culture, facilitates justice through a recognition of gifts, limitations, obligations, and
opportunities to serve God, Who has entrusted to us the stewardship of creation.
Integrity
In light of Saint Paul’s admonition “to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received” (Eph.
4:1), we will integrate what we believe and teach into our daily lives. We will maintain the integrity
of our curriculum in both what is taught and how it is taught, and foster a truly Catholic culture in
our community. For individuals, staff and students, we will confirm in all ways the mission to live
fully our Baptismal vocation.
Culture
Our students will be nourished in a thriving Roman Catholic culture to transform the world through
the “charism of intellectual charity” (Pope Benedict XVI, “Address to the Bishops of Ontario,”
September 8, 2006).
Culture, meaning both learning from and immersion in the traditions of our Catholic heritage, will
be integrated into the harmony of the liturgical year by whatever means are available.
While we will experience the treasures of two thousand years of Christianity, we will also witness to
contemporary society our commitment to the Culture of Life and the fullness of joy that the Truth
gives to us. We will be prepared by both the living teaching of modern encyclicals and the example
of all those who strive to incarnate the life of the Gospels and the teachings of the Church.
Members of our community will be invited to participate in a variety of activities beyond their
academic pursuits, which will contribute to the growth of the whole person.
72/STUDENT LIFE & SERVICES A complete guide to the policies and procedures pertaining to student life is available in the Student Handbook. What follows is an overview of some key features of SWC’s campus life. Residences Students at the College live in small men’s and women’s households. The households are designed to foster genuine Christian friendship and growth, and the furthering of a sacramental prayer life. Residence life is more than merely living in a “dorm.” It is a place where real human development is expected to take place—a place to study, and a place to relax. The residences are, in effect, the students’ homes, and all residents participate in household upkeep through assigned chores each week. Residence Assistants and Proctors are designated to facilitate the smooth operation of the residences and to ensure that student life policies are respected. Activities SWC students have a plethora of options for their free time when they are not engrossed in their studies. Organized activities include hikes, cultural visits to urban centres, and religious pilgrimages, such as the annual spring pilgrimage to the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland. The small-town rural setting of Barry’s Bay is ideal for outdoor activities, and the local arena provides opportunities for hockey and ice-skating. Drama aficionados will look forward to the yearly production in which they may perform or assist behind the scenes. The Spiritual Life and Student Life Committees plan events and liturgies as well as invite in guest speakers on occasion. Past topics have included “Lectio Divina – Praying the Scriptures,” “Technology and the Human Person,” “The Holy Vocation of Marriage” and “Bearing Living Witness,” as well as workshops on the “School of Evangelization,” and “New Life in the Spirit.” Finally, with staff guidance, students may organize an outreach involving community service (past examples include youth ministry, and visitation to the sick and elderly) always respecting their first responsibility to their studies and to personal development in Christ as faithful members of His Body the Church under the mantle of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom. 2.1 Spiritual Life In addition to an excellent academic environment, we provide a rich spiritual atmosphere to foster spiritual growth. Our priest-chaplain, Fr. Kieran Kilcommons of Madonna House, offers the Sacraments and spiritual direction. We are part of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Parish whose Parish Priest, Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, O.M.I., is very supportive. Moreover, SWC benefits from the prayers and proximity of Madonna House and Religious Orders. Prayer is central to life at SWC. Each Monday after daily classes, a community Mass is celebrated by our priest-chaplain with rich liturgies in English and Latin. Male students may request to serve at the Parish Masses. Every school year begins with a mandatory spiritual Day of Recollection, a silent retreat in a beautiful natural setting (personal-electronics-device-free). Here, students recollect themselves and are encouraged to set personal spiritual goals and academic short- and long-term goals. Prayers before classes, meals, and meetings keep our focus on Christ in all aspects of life at SWC. Additional opportunities for spiritual growth include separate men’s and women’s retreats for students and monthly praise and adoration evenings. In summary, SWC offers students many opportunities for growth in faith and in knowledge of Christ; personalized guidance is available to each student to help them choose wisely. 8
2.2 Academic Services
2.2.1. Library
SWC strives to meet the academic needs of students by providing physical and human resources that
both enhance their in-class learning and encourage continuous learning outside the classroom. The
College boasts a library collection of more than 20,000 books, with special collections including the
works of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, G. K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc,
and Christopher Dawson. SWC’s student computers have high-speed Internet access and up-to-date
word-processing software.
Noise Levels
At all times, students should be mindful of others working around them, including staff, faculty and
other students. Students must abide by the following designations regarding noise levels in the library
and study spaces, as well as comply with any reasonable request to decrease the volume of any noise
at any time.
Room Designation
St. Thomas Aquinas Library Quiet
St. Basil’s Study Hall Moderate
St. Benedict Study Hall Silent
St. Augustine Study Hall Silent
St. Anthony’s Meeting Room Quiet (except when booked as group study space)*
Silent: no talking permitted, individual study
Quiet: infrequent and hushed talking permitted, individual study
Moderate: infrequent casual conversation permitted when not disturbing other students
*Group Study Space can be booked in advance through the Administrative Coordinator.
2.2.2. Academic Advising
The advising of students consists of a variety of routes to steer students to choose wisely in developing
the academic program they undertake while a student at SWC. Advising of students includes:
• Encouraging the choosing of the courses that are required or helpful to build a rich
program directed to a degree or a certificate;
• Helping students to discern what are their academic strengths and weaknesses and how
these can be recognised so that weaknesses can be corrected and strengths can be further
honed; and
• Helping students to make choices that prepare them for their vocations or for further
study.
Faculty Advisors receive from the Registrar a record for each of their advisees, as early as these can
be produced, of courses completed or in process, grades assigned, as well as notification of any action
placing any of their advisees on academic probation or dismissal. In the case of students in their first
semester at SWC the Registrar will inform the Faculty Advisor of grades below 60 assigned during
the first semester. The Academic Dean will inform Faculty Advisors if any of their advisees is missing
significant numbers of classes without good cause.
First-Year Students
Students are assigned a Faculty Advisor by the Academic Dean before Orientation during the first
year that a student is enrolled at SWC. Faculty Advisors are expected to contact each of their first-
year advisees, and these students must meet with their advisors within the first ten working days of
the semester to allow advisors to get to know their advisees, to encourage them in their work
generally, to familiarize them with key academic and financial policies, to offer any necessary advice
9regarding their respective loads (such as dropping of an elective), and to suggest help that any may need to succeed, including seeking help from Student Services for tutoring, help in essay writing, or testing for aptitude in thinking about career options. The advisor and advisee will complete and sign a form that will then be submitted to the Registrar. Upper-Year Students Student advising of upper-year students is the joint responsibility of faculty and the Registrar. The Academic Dean and the Registrar will work together to assign a student pursuing a particular concentration to the chair or designate of the relevant department as his or her academic advisor. In the case of upper-year students, Faculty Advisors will contact their advisees in October and mid- February to mid-March with the view to discuss their academic progress, to talk about possible concentrations and the consequent choice of electives, to discuss strategies for completing a degree at various universities, and to initiate conversations to encourage advisees to reflect about their academic strengths (and weaknesses) and sense of calling. During the registration sessions for the Fall and Winter semesters, the Registrar will meet with students to fill in registration forms, giving particular attention to ensuring that all course and credit requirements for a chosen degree or certificate are satisfied. 2.3 Student Services Student Services at SWC is designed to provide academic and social support for students. Information on academic support, including academic/peer tutoring can be found online at http://www.seatofwisdom.ca/academics/student-services/. 2.2.3. Counselling Student Services does not offer therapeutic intervention for students with significant emotional, psychological or psychiatric problems. However, short term ‘Solutions Focussed Counselling’ is available for those students experiencing emotional distress. Counselling is by appointment through Mrs. Karen Hanlon, Director of Student Services, St. Joseph Hall, Second Floor, room #2 – Phone 613-756-3082 ext. 103 or email khanlon@seatofwisdom.ca. For details on the Response Protocol for Mental Health/Psychological Crises, please visit our Student Services page: https://www.seatofwisdom.ca/academics/student-services/. All services are strictly confidential. As SWC follows the Ontario guidelines on Privacy and Confidentiality, no information can or will be shared with other SWC staff without specific written permission and approval from the student. In addition, students at SWC live in small, home-like residences facilitated by a residence assistant, who is in some cases assisted by a proctor. These members of the Student Life Team are there primarily to support the students under their care in integrating well into life at SWC. They are able to answer questions and provide direction and assistance to students on a personal level. 2.2.4. Vocational Testing Student Services is able to provide individual, vocational aptitude testing for those students planning future careers. The testing takes about an hour and a half after which time students will receive a print-out identifying the possible vocational areas that match their profile. This is available to students in all years of study and is designed to assist with course planning. Requests for Counselling or Vocational Testing can be made through Mrs. Karen Hanlon, Director of Student Services, St. Joseph Hall, Second Floor, room #2 – Phone 613-756-3082 ext. 103 or email khanlon@seatofwisdom.ca. 2.2.5. Tutoring Scheduled tutoring is provided for those who meet the province of Ontario’s criteria for students with disabilities. Tutoring is also available on a limited basis for regular students in need of occasional help with essays or course-work. SWC provides writing tutors, available to any student by 10
appointment, to assist with the planning, drafting, and editing of written assignments for courses. A
sign-up sheet will be posted weekly.
2.3.1 Policy on Students with Disabilities
The College recognizes that some students have diagnosed disabilities which may impact their
capacity to be successful in our program. Those students who meet the Ontario Government’s
definition of students with disabilities will have access to accommodations and support to enable
them to be academically successful at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. The Director of Student
Services will work with these students to access, to the degree that it is feasible, the resources and
services available to help them. In order to access Academic Accommodations students must meet
with the Director of Student Services during the first weeks of the Fall Semester and present any
available documentation to support their status as a student with disabilities.
Where a need has been established to the satisfaction of the Director, students may take a reduced
course load, or have appropriate accommodations made, such as alternative methods for the taking
of examinations. It is the responsibility of students who have a learning (or other) disability to contact
the Director prior to coming to campus, or at the time of their arrival. A claim for services and
accommodations for a pre-existing disability should include, where possible, appropriate
documentation from a certified medical, psychiatric or psychological professional.
The areas in which disabilities may occur include: attention deficit disorder (ADD), acquired brain
injury, hearing, learning, medical, mobility, psychological/emotional, vision.
2.3.2 Policy on Students with Disabilities
Services and accommodations can be put in place only after an admissions decision has been made.
Information on an individual student's disability is not considered by the Admissions Committee as
a condition of acceptance or rejection.
113/ADMISSIONS POLICIES
3.1 Requirements for Regular Admission
Academic Requirements
The Academic Program in the liberal arts of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College is guided by Catholic
tradition. No one, however, is excluded on the basis of religion: the truth is universal and open to
all. The College admits students without unjust discrimination with regard to race, colour, non-
disqualifying physical handicap, national and ethnic origin, to all the rights, privileges, programs and
activities generally accorded or made available at the college, according to the Ontario Human Rights
Code.
Since the program offered at SWC is post-secondary, prospective students must complete the
requisite preparatory work at the secondary level. For admission into a degree or certificate program,
students must have achieved a B average. Acceptance of students who are in the process of
completing secondary school shall be conditional upon completion of the secondary school program
and receipt of the final secondary school transcripts.
Students who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for Probationary Admission
(see “Probationary Admission” 3.2.2). In all cases, admission is not based purely on statistical
benchmarks; other factors, especially the admissions essays and letters of recommendation, will be
taken into consideration.
1. Admission of Students from Ontario:
For admission into a degree or certificate program, students must have completed the
proper advanced level courses with an average of 75%, including six Grade 12 U or U/C
(M) courses, one of which must be Grade 12 U English. Students not enrolled in an
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Program must have achieved a similar
standard (see below 5. Admission of Home-Schooled Students, 8. Admission of Mature
Students, 10. Admission of Companions of the Cross, and 11. Other Applicants.)
2. Admission of Students from Other Canadian Provinces:
Applicants from other Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec, will be
considered for admission on the presentation of Grade 12 senior matriculation, which is
considered equivalent to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, with six Grade 12 U-
level/M-level courses. Applicants from Quebec should have a Secondary V diploma and
at least one year (a minimum of 12 academic courses) of general CEGEP to be eligible for
admission.
3. Admission of Students from the United States:
Applicants from the United States will be considered for admission on the presentation
of an academic program from an accredited high school or other educational institution
which is the equivalent of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and which includes
appropriate university preparation courses. For admission into a degree or certificate
program, satisfactory scores on college entrance examinations such as the American
College Test (ACT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or the Classical Learning Test
(CLT) are an important criterion for admission. A minimum ACT score of 20, a
combined SAT score of 940 (on tests taken between 2005 and 2016, a combined score of
1420 is required), or a minimum CLT score of 58, plus a high school average of “B” is
required for admission to the program at SWC. American students who have not written
the SAT or ACT may be considered for admission into a degree or certificate program if
they have a B average or greater. The Admissions Committee may still require the student
to complete a standardized test.
124. Admission of Students from Other Countries
Applicants from countries other than Canada and the U.S. will be considered for
admission on the presentation of an academic program from an accredited high school or
other educational institution which is the equivalent of the Ontario Secondary School
Diploma and which includes appropriate university preparation courses. Satisfactory
scores on college entrance examinations such as the American College Test (ACT) or the
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) may also be required for admission. All transcripts must
be presented in English, either translated directly by the school or through an approved
third-party transcript translation/evaluation organization (e.g. World Education Services)
at the student’s expense.
Each international student will be assessed on an individual basis. Admission to SWC
will be based on a combination of the requirements for university admission in the
applicant’s country of residence and requirements in Canada. In all cases clear and official
transcripts are required.
For those students educated in countries using the British system of education, depending
on the certificate held, the following minimum admission requirements are required:
• General Certificate of Education (GCE) with passes in all five subjects, at least two of
which must be at the advanced level. No subject area may be represented more than
once. An overall average of “C” must be attained in the five subjects. Grades of “D”
or lower or grades of 7, 8, or 9 will not be accepted.
• School and Higher School Certificates with credits on the school certificate are
accepted as ordinary level passes on the GCE. Subsidiary passes on the Higher School
Certificates are accepted as ordinary passes. Grades of “D” or lower will not be
accepted; neither will grades of 7, 8, or 9 be accepted. The same minimum admission
requirements apply for students submitting School and Higher School Certificates as
for those submitting their GCE.
5. Admission of Home-Schooled Students
We welcome applications from home-schooled students, provided that they can show
equivalency, for example, by submitting ACT (American College Test), SAT (Scholastic
Aptitude Test), or CLT (Classical Learning Test) scores (see requirements on Admission
from the United States for minimum acceptable scores). Interested home-schoolers
should contact SWC’s Admissions Coordinator for more specific information regarding
application requirements.
6. Admission of Transfer Students
Students who have previously attended a postsecondary institution must apply as transfer
students (see 3.4, Credit Transfer and Prior Learning Assessment). Admission will be
based on the cumulative average they achieved during their most recent postsecondary
studies. Once admitted, students may apply to have their previous postsecondary credits
assessed to determine if they are eligible for transfer of credit and subsequent advanced
standing.
7. Admission of Transient Students
Transient students are students who are pursuing a program at another postsecondary
institution but who wish to take courses at SWC for a semester. Such students may apply
to be accepted for a semester only, using a simplified application process: the essays and
application fee are waived, and in place of the two reference letters, a transient permission
form or equivalent letter issued from the home institution may be substituted. Such
students must have satisfied the equivalent of at least half of the SWC first-year core.
Inquiries concerning prerequisite requirements for SWC courses should be directed to
the Registrar.
138. Admission of Mature Students
Applicants who will be at least 19 on the date of entrance, who have not attended school
on a full-time basis for at least two years, and who do not meet the requirements in any
of the above categories, may seek to demonstrate the potential for academic success at the
university level in whatever ways are appropriate given their activities since high school.
Mature students are required to demonstrate academic abilities equivalent to those of
Ontario high school graduates, verified by successful completion of courses at the
postsecondary level or an entrance examination. The demonstration may include, but is
not limited to, letters of reference, standardized test scores, and transcripts for secondary
school or other academic work. Mature students will normally initially be admitted on
probation (see Probationary Admission, 3.2.2). When evidence in the form of post-
secondary courses or testing is lacking or insufficient, mature applicants will be
interviewed and examined by the Admissions Committee, as appropriate.
9. Admission of Continuing Students
Those persons who have already earned a degree from a university or college may be
admitted as continuing students. College and university transcripts must be provided, but
high school transcripts will not normally be required. Otherwise, the same application
form and other requirements apply as to others applying into a degree or certificate
program.
10. Admission of Companions of the Cross
Seminarians for the Companions of the Cross may take courses at SWC, for one academic
year only, with a simplified application procedure. The essays and application fee are
waived, and in place of the two reference letters a [permission form or equivalent] letter
issued from their Seminary may be substituted. The campus residency policy is waived for
Companion seminarians.
11. Other Applicants
Other applicants will be considered according to their merits (e.g. students who achieved
the GED), but will generally be considered on a probationary basis (see Probationary
Admission 3.2.2).
Language Requirement
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by having
satisfied one of the following requirements:
Test Minimum Score Comments
TOEFL IBT: A minimum score of 20 in each of the component parts (listening,
PBT: 560 reading, speaking, and writing) is required. The TOEFL score must be
IBT: 86 submitted before an admission decision will be made.
MELAB 78 Michigan English Language Assessment Battery: A minimum composition
score of 83 (R) is required.
IELTS 6.5 International English Language Testing System
CAEL 60(H)70(R) Canadian Academic English Language Assessment
OTHER Attended a secondary school (academic studies) in an English speaking country (e.g. Canada, U.S., U.K.,
Australia, New Zealand, parts of South Africa) full-time for at least three years
Attended an accredited English medium university in full-time academic studies for at least one year.
Resided in an English speaking country for at least four years immediately prior to applying to SWC.
Other Requirements
A student may include a description of related work/volunteer experience as part of their SWC
application package. The Admissions Committee considers all additional experience in its decisions,
but such experience is not a necessary part of the application.
143.2 Categories of Admission
1. Regular Admission: Students who have met the academic requirements outlined in 3.1, and
who in addition, through their application essay, book review, sample high school essay
and letters of reference give evidence of at least B level achievement, and show the potential
both to complete SWC’s academic program and to thrive in SWC’s community, will be
admitted to a degree or certificate program.
(Please note that students considered here as regular are seeking a degree or certificate but
may be taking classes either full-time or part-time. Full-time and part-time status matter for
the purpose of tuition/fees and the ability to stay in College residences, but not for a
student’s admission category. See 5.5, Course Load, and 7.1, Fees. In general, part-time
status is considered to apply to students who are taking fewer than 12 credits per semester.
See 5.7, Withdrawing from Courses.)
2. Probationary Admission: Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for
admission into a degree/certificate program may be considered for admission on a case-by-
case basis by the Admissions Committee. In addition to providing the regular supporting
documentation, applicants may be required to attend an interview either in person or via
an appropriate electronic medium. The Committee may grant probationary admission if
the student shows evidence of ability to carry out university-level studies.
The academic standing of probationary students is evaluated both at the end of the first
semester and at the end of the first year, at which time a decision is made as to whether the
student is taken off probation and accepted into the Bachelor of Catholic Studies program,
continues on probation, or is eligible for dismissal.
Those completing the first year with an average of at least 63.0 (a C) are taken off probation
and accepted into the full program. Those completing the year with an average lower than
63.0 must have an interview with the Academic Dean before they will be permitted to
continue on probation for another semester.
3. Non-Degree/Certificate Students Admission: Those desiring to take courses at SWC without
intending to complete a degree or certificate may apply by filling out an application form,
and providing a sample of academic work, references, and transcripts. Non-Degree students
may take no more than 13 credits in a year or more than 30 credits cumulatively.
Students in their last two years of secondary studies may be considered for this status,
provided that they demonstrate an ability to complete the courses for which they apply
without impinging upon the completion of their secondary studies.
4. Conditional Admission: Potential students may submit an application to SWC before all the
necessary work and/or documentation required for admission is complete (e.g. high school
is still in progress). If the application contains sufficient information for the Admissions
Committee to reach a provisional decision, it may choose to admit the applicant
conditionally, and will indicate in the offer of admissions what conditions need to be
fulfilled before entering in the fall semester. An applicant given a conditional offer of
admission may reserve a place in the incoming class through a deposit, and, provided the
conditions are met, is assured of a place in the incoming class. If more information is
needed before the committee can reach a decision, the applicant will be notified.
5. Transient Admission: Transient students are admitted to SWC for a single semester only. If
they wish to transfer, either while at SWC or after their time at SWC, they must use the
procedure for transfer students.
153.3 Application Procedure
To apply for admission, all of the following must be submitted unless otherwise noted in the
appropriate category above:
• Application form (obtained by contacting SWC)
• Two letters of personal/academic reference
• Application essay which covers three questions about the applicant’s (a)
family life or life experience, (b) prior education, (c) reasons for applying to
attend SWC (1000-1250 words total)
• A book review (500-1000 words)
• One academic essay completed by the applicant in the last 1 to 2 years of
education of a minimum of approximately 800 words
• Official transcripts from all secondary or post-secondary schools previously or
currently attended. An official transcript is one that bears the seal of the
institution and/or the signature of the issuing institution, or has been
produced on the institution's secured paper. Home-schooled students should
see 3.1.5 (p. 13) under Admission of Home-schooled Students.
• SAT or ACT scores, if available
• Application fee
SWC begins processing completed applications after the application deadlines—early and regular.
Any applications received after the regular deadline will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Students
will be informed about their acceptance within 4-6 weeks after all components of their application
have been received.
Re-activation and Readmission of Former Students
Former students who have not taken courses at SWC for more than three years must re-activate their
file before resuming studies. To re-activate, a student must submit the following to the Admissions
Office:
• A re-activation fee of $25.00
• A letter of reference
• A letter stating why the student wishes to re-activate (waived for students upgrading a
Certificate to the Bachelor of Catholic Studies)
A student who has not taken courses at SWC for more than ten years must submit a new
application to the Admissions Office.
163.4 Credit Transfer and Prior Learning Assessment
SWC will examine and accept credits in liberal arts disciplines from reputable, university-level
institutions, including all colleges and universities with membership in the Universities Canada (UC)
and those in the United States with accreditation through recognized accrediting bodies. SWC
accepts in transfer only those credits carrying grades of “C-” (60 on 100 point scale or 1.7 on a 4
point scale) or above. Non-repetitive liberal arts courses meeting this requirement may be applied to
the total number of credits required for a certificate. Courses will be assessed to ensure that they
fulfill the requirements as required courses or electives. The course must match in content, range of
readings, and level of difficulty.
In order to receive credit, an applicant must apply as a transfer student and submit to the Registrar:
(a) a transfer request form, (b) transcripts from all post-secondary academic institutions that he or
she has attended, and (c) course syllabi for specific courses being examined for transfer credit.
The Registrar will inform the applicant in writing of the transfer credits they have been awarded and
any additional courses they are required to take, as well as the process for appealing credit transfer
decisions. In the case of courses that will be used as prerequisites, a test may be required to ensure
that the student is properly prepared for the more advanced course.
If a student wishes to request additional credit, he or she must write a letter to the Chair of the
Academic Senate. The Chair will submit the letter of proposal to the members of the Academic
Senate. The student may be required to (a) provide additional information about past courses
describing relevant course content in greater detail or (b) take additional testing.
Transfer Limits
Students transferring into the three-year degree or certificate program must earn a minimum of 24
credits at SWC.
For complete details regarding the Credit Transfer and Recognition policy, contact the Registrar’s office.
Entrance Examinations and Prior Learning Assessment
In order to preserve its high academic standards, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom does not normally reward
any kind of advanced standing in the proposed program based on life experience. SWC recognizes
that exceptions for advanced standing may arise. For example, incoming students may already have
a language proficiency or background in music performance or art. Nevertheless, experience per se
will not receive course credit. No credit will be awarded to a student based on non-academic
background experience.
In the case of mastery of the content of the required language course Introductory Latin I, applicants
may write a challenge exam in order to place in a higher-level Latin course. Students who successfully
place in Introductory Latin II or Intermediate Latin, however, will not be awarded credit for
Introductory Latin I. They must, therefore, earn the requisite number of credits through an elective
course of their choice.
3.4.1 Credit Transfer and Recognition
Advanced Standing Policies and Requirements
SWC accepts a limited amount of course credit per transfer student for all courses; this limited
amount is outlined in the points below. Note that since transfer students must fulfill the core
requirements (and concentration requirements, if they desire) to ensure that the program outcomes
and degree-level standards are met, it is possible that not all of an individual student’s university-level
courses may transfer.
171. Applicants from other institutions a. Students transferring into the SWC degree program from another institution must earn a minimum of 30 credits at SWC and satisfy all other program requirements. b. Students who have already completed a degree must earn a minimum of 47 credits at SWC in order to receive a Bachelor of Catholic Studies as a second degree. Such students will only be eligible to receive a second degree if their first degree is substantially different from the Bachelor of Catholic Studies. c. Students must have a minimum GPA of 60.0 on a 100-point scale, 1.7 on a 4-point scale, or C- in a letter grade scale in each course that will be considered for transfer. d. Transfer students must complete the last 30 credits at SWC within a period of 3 years. 2. Applicants from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom prior to degree-granting authority for the B.C.S. All those who have previously taken SWC courses (prior to degree-granting authority) are eligible to apply for advanced standing in the Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree program. a. SWC students transferring into the degree program must earn a minimum of 24 credits within the degree program. b. Students must have a minimum GPA of 60.0 in each course considered for transfer. c. Certificate students transferring into the degree program must be able to complete the program within 7 years of entering the original certificate program; otherwise, their earlier SWC courses will be transferred as outlined in the Applicants from Other Institutions policy above. Advanced Placement Policy Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College will give credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, to a maximum of 9 credits. A minimum grade of 4 must be achieved for an AP course to transfer. For an AP course to satisfy a specific requirement at SWC, the administration must be satisfied that the AP course overlaps sufficiently with the SWC course in content, outlook, and purpose, as determined by the chair of the department in conjunction with the Academic Dean. In order to receive credit, an applicant must submit to the Registrar a) a transfer request form, b) transcripts demonstrating successful completion of the AP course(s), and c) course syllabi for specific courses being examined for transfer credit. Residency Requirement The final 15 credits (for OLSW [prior to degree-granting authority] transfer students) or 24 credits (for all other transfer students) of the degree program must be completed at SWC. The distinction between the residency requirement and the minimum SWC credits requirement is particularly relevant for students who attend another institution for a period between studies at SWC; though they may have fulfilled or almost fulfilled the minimum SWC credits, they will also have to complete the final 15 or 24 credits at SWC. Degree Completion Arrangements 1. SWC transfers all OLSWA courses (prior to degree-granting authority) individually as the equivalent SWC degree courses. As a summary, in all cases students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at SWC in order to receive a degree. 2. Academic Requirements: There are no additional academic requirements for SWC students transferring into the degree program. After a gap analysis, however, OLSWA (prior to degree- granting authority) transfer students may be required to take additional courses where the admissions committee deems it necessary. 3. Point of Entry: OLSWA (prior to degree-granting authority) transfer students will normally enter the year of the proposed degree program at the equivalent year level of the SWC program. A 18
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