Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College (Canada)

Last updated
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College
Former name
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy
MottoVeritas Vos Liberabit
Motto in English
The truth will set you free
Type Private
Established2000 [1]
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
President Dr. Christine Schintgen [2]
Undergraduates 100 full-time
Location
Barry's Bay
, ,
CampusRural
Colours Blue   and Gold  
Website www.seatofwisdom.ca

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College (SWC), formerly Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, is a private Catholic liberal arts college located in Barry's Bay, Ontario, Canada. The college offers a three-year Bachelor of Catholic Studies program with concentrations in Theology, Philosophy, History, Literature, and Classical and Early Christian Studies, as well as studies in mathematics, Languages, Sacred Music, Fine Arts, Natural and Social Sciences. [3] In 2024-2025 the College will begin to offer a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree, with majors in History; Literature; and Classical and Early Christian Studies. SWC is known for its traditional Catholic teaching and values. [4]

Contents

History

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom grew out of a 1999 study group called “Mater Ecclesiae” in Combermere, Ontario, under the directorship of John Paul Meenan. The centre sought to provide affordable Catholic education to students wishing to advance their studies after high school. In the early days, studies took place in living rooms, basements, hay lofts, and other areas hosted by local families, while teaching and tuition were free.

In 2000, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pembroke donated the former grounds of St. Joseph's Convent for use by members of the study centre. In September 2000, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy was established, and the school had its first official academic year which saw nine students and several teachers. In 2003, the academy added a second year of study to their program, and a third year in 2004. [5]

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom was approved by the province of Ontario to offer a three-year Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree in 2017, after which it became known as Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. [6] [7]

In September 2017, there were 136 students and a student-faculty ratio of 13:1.

SWC has been featured in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College as one of the institutions around the world listed as faithfully Catholic colleges. [8]

Academic profile

Liberal arts education

The courses at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom are centered on Catholic liberal arts, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church. With liberal arts education underlying the academics, SWC has a core curriculum that encompasses studies in theology, Philosophy, History, Literature, Languages, Fine Arts, Sacred Music, and Natural and Social Sciences.[ citation needed ]

Programs and degree-granting status

On May 1, 2017, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom received degree-granting status and the title of "College" in the province of Ontario. [9] OLSW was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (now the Ministry of Colleges and Universities) to grant a Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree. [10] [11] The first students received this degree at the end of the 2016–2017 academic year. SWC is working toward granting a four-year bachelor's degree. The college also grants various Certificates of Christian Humanities. SWC focuses on a core liberal arts curriculum.[ citation needed ]

Student life

Students live in single-sex, home-style residences. Each residence houses from 5 to 16 students and is led by members of the Student Leadership Team, upper-year students who facilitate the smooth functioning of the residences. Residences are named after a specific saint or Marian title. Students form community through prayer, house nights once per month, and chores, among other activities.

Students have the opportunity to take part in hikes, sports, musical performances, field trips, community prayer, choir practices, dances, special guest lectures, campus clubs and more. [12] Official clubs include the Don Bosco Drama Club, the Paul Sanders and Janine Lieu Pro-Life Club, the John-David Filmmaking Club, the Tolkien Club, and Ecclesiastical Schola. [13]

SWC's chaplain offers private spiritual direction and confession to students. [14]

Accreditation

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College is authorized by the province of Ontario to offer a Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree, as well as a four-year Bachelor of Arts with majors in History; Literature; and Classical and Early Christian Studies. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College</span> Educational institution or part of one

A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal arts education</span> Traditional academic course in Western higher education

Liberal arts education is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. Liberal arts takes the term art in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. Liberal arts education can refer to studies in a liberal arts degree course or to a university education more generally. Such a course of study contrasts with those that are principally vocational, professional, or technical, as well as religiously based courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachelor of Arts</span> Type of undergraduate qualification

A Bachelor of Arts is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years, depending on the country and institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipissing University</span> Public university in Ontario, Canada

Nipissing University is a public university located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. The campus overlooks Lake Nipissing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seneca Polytechnic</span> Public college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, branded as Seneca Polytechnic since 2023, is a multi-campus public college in the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. It offers full-time and part-time programs at the baccalaureate, diploma, certificate, and graduate levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algonquin College</span> College in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a publicly funded English-language college located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The college has three campuses, all in Ontario: a primary campus located in Ottawa, and secondary campuses located in Perth and Pembroke. It offers bachelor's degrees, diplomas, and certificates in a range of disciplines and specialties. The college serves the National Capital Region and the outlying areas of Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Upstate New York. It has been ranked among the Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada and has been recognized as one of Canada's top innovation leaders. The enabling legislation is the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act. It is a member of Polytechnics Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity Western University</span> Private Christian university in Langley and Richmond, Canada

Trinity Western University (TWU) is a private Christian liberal arts university with campuses in both Langley and Richmond, British Columbia. The school is a member of Universities Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glendon College</span> College in Ontario

Glendon College is a public liberal arts college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Formally the federated bilingual campus of York University, it is one of the school's nine colleges and 11 faculties with 100 full-time faculty members and a student population of about 2,100. Founded as the first permanent establishment of York University, the school began academic operation under the mentorship of the University of Toronto in September 1960. Under the York University Act 1959 legislation, York was once an affiliated institution of the University of Toronto, where the first cohort of faculty and students originally utilized the Falconer Hall building as a temporary home before relocating north of the St. George campus to Glendon Hall — an estate that was willed by Edward Rogers Wood for post-secondary purposes.

Georgian College is a College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, Canada, partnered with ILAC International College. It has 13,000 full-time students, including 4,500 international students from 85 countries, across seven campuses, the largest being in Barrie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of St. Scholastica</span> Private Benedictine college in Duluth, Minnesota, US

The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) is a private Benedictine college in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded in 1912 by a group of pioneering Benedictine Sisters, today St. Scholastica educates almost 4,000 students annually and has graduated more than 29,000 alumni. The college offers a liberal arts education and is located on 186 wooded acres overlooking Lake Superior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts</span> Public college in North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S.

The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) formerly known as North Adams State College (NASC) is a public liberal arts college in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is part of the state university system of Massachusetts. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Originally established as part of the state's normal school system for training teachers, it now offers programs leading to Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees, as well as a Master of Education track.

Algoma University, commonly shortened to Algoma U, is a Canadian public university in the province of Ontario, with campuses in Brampton, Sault Ste. Marie, and Timmins. Algoma U offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and graduate certificate programs in liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redeemer University</span> University in Ontario, Canada

Redeemer University is a private Christian liberal arts and science university located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in the community of Ancaster. Founded in 1982, Redeemer stands in the Reformed Tradition and offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Kinesiology, and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Tyndale University is a Canadian private interdenominational evangelical Christian university in Toronto, Ontario, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana State University of Alexandria</span> Public college in Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria is a public college in Alexandria, Louisiana. It offers undergraduate degrees in numerous disciplines. The university is a unit of the LSU System and operates under the auspices of the Louisiana Board of Regents. As of spring 2024, LSUA had an enrollment of 5,405 students which is recorded as the highest in the university's history. The institution is located eight miles south of downtown Alexandria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas More University</span> Catholic university in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, US

Thomas More University is a private Roman Catholic university in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. It serves about 2,000 full and part-time students. The university was founded in 1921 by the local Benedictine Sisters as Villa Madonna College.

Brescia University College was a Catholic liberal arts women's college located in London, Ontario, Canada. Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, Brescia was the last university-level women's college in Canada. It had approximately 1,500 undergraduate students and a 14:1 student/faculty ratio. Although Brescia was a Catholic institution, it accepted students of all faiths and backgrounds.

Northpoint Bible College and Seminary is a private Pentecostal Bible college and seminary in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The college's sole purpose is to teach and train students for Pentecostal ministry for the spread of the Christian gospel. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada Christian College</span> Private Bible college in Ontario, Canada

Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies, also known as Canada Christian College, is a private evangelical Bible college in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. As of 2020, over 6,500 people have graduated from Canada Christian College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharma Realm Buddhist University</span> Private, nonprofit Buddhist university in Ukiah, California, United States

Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) is an American private nonprofit university located in Ukiah, California, just over 100 miles north of San Francisco, in Mendocino County. It was established in 1976 by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. It is situated in the monastic setting of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a Mahayana Buddhist monastery. DRBU follows a unique variation of the Great Books model, incorporating texts from both East and West. The university has a longstanding partnership with the Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union, as well as the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association.

References

  1. "OLSWA History" . Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  2. "Governance" . Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  3. "After OLSW" . Retrieved August 8, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Mission, Vision and Values « Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College". Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  5. "Our History « Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College". Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  6. Boudreau, Evan (26 February 2017). "After 10 years, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom finally approved to grant degrees". www.catholicregister.org. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  7. "Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board". www.peqab.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  8. "Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College". Cardinal Newman Society. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  9. "It's Official: OLSW Approved to Offer a Bachelor's Degree « Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College". 2 May 2017.
  10. Boudreau, Evan (February 26, 2017). "After 10 years, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom finally approved to grant degrees". The Catholic Register. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  11. "Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board".
  12. "OLSWA Student Life Overview" . Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  13. "Student Clubs « Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College". Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  14. "OLSWA Spiritual Life Formation" . Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  15. "Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board". www.peqab.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-28.

45°28′57″N77°40′52″W / 45.4824°N 77.6811°W / 45.4824; -77.6811