Continuing Education

1. Enrolling
   1. Eligibility
   2. Centre for Students with Disabilities
   3. Fees, Texts and Tax Credits
   4. Confirmation of Enrollment
   5. Classroom Locations
   6. Wait Lists
2. Financial Assistance
3. Grades
   1. Grade Reports and Transcripts
   2. Transfer Credits
   3. Prerequisite/Corequisites
   4. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
      
   5. Graduation
4. Campus, Bookstores, Parking and Other Services
   1. Campus Store
   2. Parking
   3. Niagara College Libraries
5. Changes and Cancellations
   1. Course Changes
   2. Cancellation of Courses
   3. Cancellation of Classes - Campus Closings
6. Course Transfers, Withdrawals, Refunds and Audits
   1. Transfer Privileges
   2. Withdrawals
   3. Refunds
   4. Auditing of Courses
7. Class Breaks, Student Rights and Responsibilities
   1. Official College Teaching Contact Hour
   2. Student Rights and Responsibilities

Enrolling

Eligibility

If you are 19 or over, or with a Secondary School Graduation Diploma you are eligible to attend our courses. If you’re under 19 and without a Secondary School Graduation Diploma, you may be eligible to enroll in some classes one week prior to the class start date, provided you have permission from the Academic Department and the Registrar’s Office.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7500.

Centre for Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSWD). The CSWD provides academic supports, accommodations and services for students who have documented disabilities, including learning difficulties, visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical or mobility impairment, chronic health problems or social/emotional problems.

If you are a student with a disability, please contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities located in the Student Success Centre at the Welland or Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses to make an appointment with a counsellor to discuss your needs for assistance. For more information, call:

Welland Campus (Room SE102)
905-735-2211 ext. 7602

NOTL Campus (room W102)
905-641-2252 ext. 4408

Or visit our website at: niagaracollege.ca/cswd

NOTE: Documentation of disability is required. Evening hours are available.

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Fees, Texts and Tax Credits

Only officially registered students may attend class, laboratory situations or field placement activity. This means that you must be officially enrolled and fees paid in accordance with College regulations.  Fee, including lab and/or material fees, are payable in full at the time of registration.

Every effort has been made to list the actual cost of the courses in this calendar, however, Niagara College reserves the right to change fees as necessary.

For many courses, a textbook may be required. This cost is not included in the course fees listed in the catalogue. Textbooks for online courses may be purchased at textnet.ca or contact the Welland Campus Bookstore for availability.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7584.

Some courses qualify for income tax credits. You will receive a T2202A - Tuition and Education Amounts Certificate for these courses. The T2202A will be available on the student portal (my.niagaracollege.ca) by the end of February next year for courses that qualify.  See your Income Tax guide for courses that qualify.

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Confirmation of Enrollment

This important document provides you with the room/campus location of your course. It’s also part of the necessary documentation needed to withdraw from a course. You will receive this document within five days after registration.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7556.

Confirmation of Enrollment - Online Learning

You will receive an e-mail containing login information the day your course starts. If you register after the course start date, you will receive login information within 24-48 hours.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7556.

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Classroom Locations

The campus location is listed with each course description in the calendar. The actual classroom for your course will be printed on your Confirmation of Enrollment form and will be posted at the appropriate campus on the first night of your class.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7500.

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Wait Lists

The wait list addresses the situation when demand for a course exceeds capacity. The good news is that you have the option of being placed on a wait list whenever the course you apply for is already filled.

When, a vacancy occurs, the seat is then offered to the first person on the wait list. This person then has 24 hours to accept the offer and enrol. If official registration is not completed within the time limit, the offer is cancelled and a new one is made to the next person on the wait list.  There are no wait lists for online courses.

For information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7556.

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Financial Assistance

• Bursary for Students With Disabilities
• Part-Time Student Loan Program.

Please check with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to see if your certificate program is eligible for bursary and/or loan assistance.

Information on available financial aid/scholarships and bursaries can be obtained online at niagaracollege.ca/finaid.

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Grades

Grade Reports and Transcripts

It is Niagara College’s policy to record all attempted courses on the official transcript in accordance with the “National Transcript Guide for Use in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions”.

The basic principle that the transcript should be a complete and historically accurate image of the academic record means that requests to have grades removed from your student record cannot be granted.

When a student repeats an identical course, the lower grade will remain on the transcript, however, it will not be included in the weighted grade average calculation.

For more information, please refer to the Grading and the Transcript practice on the College website at niagaracollege.ca/eval 

Grade reports are available on the student portal (my.niagaracollege.ca) to all students registered in credit courses and vocational courses.  Online course grades may take up to 3 weeks to be entered after the end of the course.  Your official transcripts are available from the Registrar’s Office at no cost. The transcript includes an explanation of the College evaluation system printed on the back. A request for your official transcripts must be submitted in writing. Please allow two working days for the request to be processed.

For more information on transcripts and a copy of the Transcript Request form, go to niagaracollege.ca/transcripts or call 905-735-2211 ext. 7500.

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Accessing the Student Portal

Navigate to my.niagaracollege.ca.  If you are a new user, you will need to set up your Username and Password.  Click the Set/change your password link on the login page.  You must have your student number, found on your Confirmation of Enrollment, and your birth date.  Once logged in, navigate to the My Apps tab, and click on the My Student Records icon.

For more information, call 905-735-2211, ext. 7500.

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Transfer Credits

A student may be exempted from courses at Niagara based on courses successfully completed at recognized post-secondary institutions. A copy of the Transfer Credit Request form is available on the college website at niagaracollege.ca/transfercredit or at the Registrar’s Office and Information Centre at both campuses, or by calling ext. 7538 (Welland Campus) or ext. 4204 (Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus). 

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Prerequisite/Corequisites

A prerequisite is a course that is required prior to taking a higher level course. A corequisite is a course that must be taken in conjunction with another course. The student must ensure that he/she has the necessary prerequisite(s) and is also registering in any specified corequisite(s).

For more information, call 905-735-2211 ext. 7500.

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Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Niagara College believes that many people acquire college-level learning and skills through various learning situations such as: work experience, community work, non-credit courses, self-directed study, travel and military service. Candidates who can show that they have achieved the learning outcomes of a specific course may be granted Niagara College credits based on an assessment of their prior learning.

For information visit niagaracollege.ca/plar or call 905-735-2211 ext. 7491.

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Graduation

Upon completion of all certificate requirements, you must complete an Application to Graduate form.  Form is available at “Application to Graduate”  or pick one up at the Registrar’s Office. If you plan to attend your convocation ceremony in October 2013 (and we really hope you do), you will be required to pay a $25 fee. 

The Convocation fee is payable with the application to graduate. Applications for the October 2013 Convocation Ceremony must be received by the Registrar’s Office no later than August 31, 2013.

For more information call 905-735-2211 ext. 7500.

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Campus Bookstores, Libraries, Parking and Other Services

Campus Store

The Campus Stores sell in-class textbooks, supplies, computer accessories, trade and reference books, College clothing and giftware. The stores, located at the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses, are open year-round to students and the general public. The store hours are extended at the beginning of each term.

Textbooks for online courses may be purchased at textnet.ca or contact the Welland Campus Bookstore for availability.

 Regular Store Hours (both campuses):

8 am to 4:30 pm

Phone 905-735-2211 ext. 7585,

Fax 905-736-6015 or email wcstore@niagaracollege.ca

Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus Contact Information

Phone 905-641-2252 ext. 4055,

Fax 905-988-4315 or email notlstore@niagaracollege.ca

The Campus Store accepts cash, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or debit card for payment.  Credit Card phone orders, for online courses only, are also accepted and shipped directly.  A shipping fee is applied.

Returned merchandise must be in resaleable condition. Do not remove the shrinkwrap, mark or read your textbook until you are certain about your courses.

The Campus Store Refund Policy requires that a sales receipt must be provided for all returned items. Refunds are available for two weeks from the first day of class, with a receipt. NO refunds will be given just prior to, during or just after exam weeks. If you are withdrawing from a course after the two week period, you must provide a copy of your withdrawal form.

ALL REFUNDS ARE MADE AT THE DISCRETION OF STORE PERSONNEL.

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Niagara College Libraries and Learning Commons

Library services are available to all Niagara College students.  CE students enrolled in a credit course are entitled to full library service simply by presenting your student photo ID card when borrowing materials from the Library.  This photo ID card can be obtained at the InfoCentres located at each campus.

CE students in non-credit courses can obtain a library card at their campus library by bringing in their Confirmation of Enrollment form.

For more information on library schedules and services please visit the Library website at niagaracollege.ca/library or call 905-735-2211 ext. 7767 (Welland) or ext. 4413 (NOTL).

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Parking

Parking at the Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Maid of the Mist campuses is free daily after 5 pm and on weekends.

If you are attending a Continuing Education activity or event prior to 5 pm, Monday-Friday, parking is by permit only.  Daily paid-parking permits are available at all campus locations. Be sure to display the permit on your dashboard.

Vehicles which are not in compliance with the College parking regulations will be subject to ticketing under the Municipal Bylaw.

Changes and Cancellations

Course Changes

Occasionally, we too are forced to deal with the unexpected and will make a change, or changes, to a course’s location, instructor, starting date, content, or other details. Niagara College reserves this right. For more information call 905-735-2211 ext. 7510.

Cancellation of Courses

While Niagara College sincerely regrets having to cancel any courses, we reserve the right to do so. For more information call 905-735-2211 ext. 7510.

Cancellation of Classes - Campus Closings

Severe weather conditions or storm warnings may result in the cancellation of classes. These types of cancellations will be announced on local radio stations. You may also check the college website niagaracollege.ca. For more information call 905-735-2211 ext. 7510.

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Course Transfers, Withdrawals and Refunds

Transfer Privileges

To request a transfer from one course to another (pending space availability), you must transfer before the start of the third class of the course you are transferring from and the course you are transferring to.  All course transfer requests must be made through the Registrar’s Office. Transfers cannot be made from one term to the next. For information call 905-735-2211 ext. 7500.

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Withdrawals

If you wish to withdraw from a course, you must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing and return the Confirmation of Enrollment (withdrawals cannot be done on-line).  For in-class courses starting the week of May 6, 2013,  you must withdraw prior to the 3rd class to receive a refund (for most classes). The final date to withdraw without Academic Penalty is calculated as 2/3 point of the course. This date is July 12, 2013 (for most classes). For classes that start/finish early or late, the last day to withdraw is the date closest to the two-thirds point of the course duration. If the Registrar’s Office does not receive written notification (telephone notification is not acceptable) before the withdrawal deadline, your official student transcript will be assigned your accumulated grade to-date. If you withdraw after the third class and prior to the final withdrawal date you will receive a grade of W (Withdrawn).

Please remember that notice by telephone will not be accepted as course withdrawal notification, nor will the cancellation of a payment cheque or the failure to attend classes. Only a written notification along with the Confirmation of Enrollment, received by the Registrar’s Office before the withdrawal deadline will be considered to be a valid withdrawal request.

For more information please contact 905-735-2211 ext. 7556.

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Refunds

A full refund of fees is issued when:

1. the College cancels a course, or
2. you are unable to attend a course due to unanticipated scheduling or location changes made by the College.

A refund of fees, less a $20 administration charge, will be issued if you withdraw seven or more days prior to the start date for a course or seminar that has 6 classes or less, or from other courses prior to the third class.

Refunds for On-Line Learning Courses

On-line learning students must notify the Registrar's Office in writing within 14 days from the start date of the class for a refund less the administration fee. 

Refunds for International Students

 International students will be assessed a $50.00 administration fee per course if withdrawing from a credit course, regardless of the date of withdrawal

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Auditing of Courses

You may audit a credit or vocational course with permission from the Academic Dean before the start of the course.  Regular course fees will apply.  Course attendance is required, but there will be no evaluation given for the course.  A grade of AU will appear on the transcript.  Some courses are prerequisites for other courses.  A course with an ‘audit’ grade will not qualify as a prerequisite for higher level courses.  There are no online courses that can be audited.

For more information please contact 905-735-2211 ext. 7556.

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Class Breaks, Student Rights and Responsibilities

Official College Teaching Contact Hour

Each teaching contact hour consists of a 50 minute block plus a break of up to ten minutes. The scheduling of breaks within any class session is at the discretion of the teacher and students.

Break Week

The college terms now follow the 7-1-7 semester model.  Each term (for most in-class courses) is made up of seven weeks of instruction, a Break Week from June 24 to June 28, 2013 (no classes) and classes resume the week of July 2 for the final seven weeks of instruction.   Please check course scheduling for Weekend, Seminar, General Interest and your particular course(s) as they may not be affected by the  Break Week.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

To learn more about Student Rights and Responsibilities, visit:  niagaracollege.ca/practices_student_rights.

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