SWAC
SWAC
School Within a College (SWAC) is an incredible opportunity for senior students who wish to explore a career and complete secondary credits in an alternative way. The Grand River Region SWAC is a partnership among Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Grand Erie District School Board, Fanshawe College, Simcoe and Mohawk College, Brantford. Programs are offered as full days in the college setting.
Students engage in a dual credit program based on their pathway choice. They attend a congregated class and take the entire program as a group with one secondary teacher as their primary contact. Secondary staffing is provided by both boards equally.
There are two components to SWAC programs. Dual Credits are team-taught by college professors and secondary teachers. The college staff takes the lead and the secondary teacher partners in a wide variety of ways including curriculum alignment, student support and partner teacher. Assessment and evaluation are a joint effort with each responsible for reporting to their respective institutions. Students receive up to two secondary credits and two or more college credits, depending upon the hours required per credit. Additional secondary credits are taught by the secondary teacher. They include learning experiences which enhance the pathway chosen by the students. This is accomplished by a combination of direct teaching (usually English and/or Math), credit recovery and monitored independent learning (MIL). This combination of approaches allows students to focus on the English and Math needed to accomplish their OSSD and qualify for the next step programs they may want to enter, as well as to complete other courses they may need to graduate.
Program Options
SWAC programs are evolving based on identified need and the availability of the college to offer the program focus.
Currently we have one semester programs in:
- Business
- Human Services
- Manufacturing and Construction Trades
- Facilities Maintenance Trades
- OYAP and Apprenticeship Options in trades areas
Target Group
The target group for SWAC includes students who are:
- 17 - 20 years of age who have not completed the OSSD
- have an interest in exploring a career path offered through the program
- may be considering or already dropped out
- are motivated to improve work skills and build self confidence
- are capable of working at the College or Apprenticeship level
School Within A College (SWAC): the major project of SCWI in the Grand River Region
Laura Giliberti, Student Success Teacher for SWAC feels that, in life, only sometimes do people get second chances...and sometimes that’s just what a student needs to be successful. School Within a College (SWAC) is a program for those students, who, for whatever reason, have become disengaged with the regular school system but would benefit from something just a little different. These students need something that they can be successful in and feel good about to put them on the right track...whatever that track may be: the world of work, apprenticeships or college. The Ontario Ministry of Education has a number of programs and initiatives that offer students another chance at success.
