Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College (SWC) has today closed its Barry’s Bay campus temporarily. The move to online learning for all students was made due to a further positive antigen test for COVID-19. The Current contacted Acting President Dr. Christine Schintgen this morning after being told about the closure from a confidential source. At Schintgen’s request, The Current agreed to await the wording of the official SWC statement before going public with the news.
SWC’s statement reads as follows: “Due to the current outbreak of COVID-19 on campus, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College has decided to close campus operations temporarily. There have been no further confirmed cases since the four already reported, but there has been one positive antigen test from an individual in another residence. All classes have been moved online and campus will be closed except for business that must be conducted in person, until the COVID-19 situation has been resolved. SWC continues to work closely with the Renfrew County and District Health Unit to manage the situation and to minimize the spread of the virus.”
The move follows cancellation of an in-person Alumni Weekend this fall. Instead, SWC alumni are being encouraged to participate in a virtual “Homecoming” with the College offering a modest financial contribution to any alumni who will host a viewing party so that four or more persons in their area can participate via video-conference. An in-person “Come and Visit” event for prospective students originally scheduled for Sept.23-26 was also previously cancelled. SWC announced on Facebook that a virtual information session will be held during October at a date to be announced and that the next in-person visit remains scheduled for Nov.11-14.
Photo seatofwisdom.ca
If the College really wanted to work closely with the Health Unit, it would encourage or insist on vaccination instead of resisting!