It’s a great time to be at Seneca WELCOME GUIDE

It’s a great
time to be
at Seneca
WELCOME GUIDE
2014/15
senecacollege.ca
A message
from Seneca’s
President
Congratulations on your acceptance and
welcome to Seneca College.
We’re delighted and proud that you’ve chosen
to study here. Seneca opens the door to a world
of possibilities. Whether you’re preparing for a
career or further education, our degree, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programs are
designed to help you meet your goals.
This guide contains important information
that will make your start at Seneca easier and
help prepare you for your studies. Inside, you’ll
find the steps you can follow to confirm your
admission to Seneca, information on key dates,
and contact information for any questions.
Plus, you’ll get an idea of the range of services,
supports, and resources available to you that all
have one objective – your success.
I hope you’ll join us at a Program Spotlight
to find out more about your program, meet
our faculty and staff, and learn more about
the Seneca experience. For details, see
senecacollege.ca/visitus.
It’s a great time to be at Seneca, and we look
forward to seeing you on campus soon.
David Agnew
Seneca President
1
ADMISSIONS
For office hours, contact information
and more, see: senecacollege.ca/admissions
For questions, please email us at:
[email protected]
Follow these five easy
steps to start at Seneca
Step 3
Book Your Skills Assessment
Step 2
Pay Your Fees
Included with your offer letter is
an invoice which indicates your fee
due date. It is important to make a
payment by this date or your seat
may be offered to the first applicant
on the waiting list.
Step 1
Confirm Your Offer
Let us know you want to accept
our offer of admission at:
ontariocolleges.ca
The offer expiry date is on your
acceptance letter. Your OCAS
username and password will be
required to log in to your account.
From there, you will be able to review
our offer of admission and confirm
the program of your choice.
seneca WELCOME guide 2014/15
As a new Seneca student, you may be
required to write the Skills Assessment,
even if you have already written
a pre-admissions test. The Skills
Assessment is a tool to determine your
academic placement in English and/or
mathematics. We use the results of this
assessment to prepare your timetable.
Students accepted into a graduate
certificate program do not need to
complete this assessment. While
there is no assessment fee, if you do
not write the assessment on time,
you may incur a $30 late fee.
For fee payment options, see
senecacollege.ca/payment
To book a test, visit:
senecacollege.ca/testcentre
416.491.5050 ext. 26868
If you are applying for OSAP, you must
pay a minimum $400 deposit fee and
submit a signed Promissory Note by
the date on your invoice. A Promissory
Note can be downloaded and filled in
online through the payment link above.
If you require academic
accommodations related to a
disability, please see a counsellor prior
to arranging the Skills Assessment
test. To speak to a counsellor, call:
416.491.5050 ext. 22900.
To officially withdraw from a program after
you have paid your fees, you must fill out
and sign the Request to Withdraw form and
submit it to the Registration Office before
the 10th day of class. You can find the form,
along with submission instructions through
the above link.
Practice tests, workshop schedules
and study guides are available online
through the test centre link above.
Questions? 
[email protected]
ADMISSIONS
Visit senecacollege.ca/registrar/dates for information
on all critical dates, including semester start/end dates,
fee due dates and program specific dates.
Step 4
Step 5
Check if You are Eligible
for Advanced Standing
Review the Conditions of
Your Acceptance
If you have a college or university level
subject similar to a Seneca subject
listed in your program, you may be
eligible to apply for an Advanced
Standing credit at Seneca. To view
our advanced standing policies,
visit our policies and procedures
page online at: senecacollege.ca/
admissions-policy
Please review our Offer of Admission
letter for any conditions. If you have
not met all the admission requirements
because you are still in school or
completing a course required for
admission, you have until the first day
of classes to complete your studies,
submit the necessary documents and
meet the conditions.
To apply, you must submit an
Advanced Standing Form along with
a transcript and subject outlines from
your previous school through the
above policies and procedures link.
If you fail or drop a subject, or do
not obtain your Secondary School
Graduation Diploma or do not
complete your upgrading program to
the grade 12 level, you must contact
the Admissions Office immediately.
If you fail to inform us before your
program starts, you may forfeit your
seat in the program.
Now you’re
ready to
begin
Policies &
Procedures
For all Seneca policies and
procedures, please see:
senecacollege.ca/admissions-policy
3
STUDENT LOANS & FINANCIAL AID
Seneca offers a range of bursaries
and scholarships in addition to
various government financial aid
programs that can help you with the
cost of postsecondary education
Ontario Student
Assistance Program
(OSAP)
Registered students who are Canadian citizens, protected persons
or have permanent resident status may apply for financial assistance
through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). If eligible,
students receive assistance through The Canada Student Loan and/or
Ontario Student Loan plan.
You should apply for financial
assistance as soon as you have
confirmed acceptance to a program.
You can apply for OSAP at no
cost via the Ministry of Training,
Colleges and Universities website at
osap.gov.on.ca. Paper applications
can be printed directly from the
site. Check the website for updates
on changes to the Ontario Student
Assistance Program for 2014/2015.
Your completed application must
be submitted to the campus you
will be attending:
OSAP also provides assistance
to eligible students through the
following programs:
• Newnham
• Seneca @York
• King
• Markham
• Child Care Bursary - to assist with
child care costs for students who
have more than three children
seneca welcome guide 2014/15
Students at the Jane, Peterborough and
Yorkgate campuses will learn where to
submit their documentation through the
OSAP website.
• Bursary for Students with Disabilities
- to assist with disability related
educational costs
• 30% off Tuition Grant
STUDENT LOANS & FINANCIAL AID
Apply for the Ontario Student
Assistance Program (OSAP)
online at: osap.gov.on.ca
Apply for scholarships, bursaries & awards
at: senecacollege.ca/financialaid
Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards
Seneca College offers more than
400 awards, a number of sponsor
-paid scholarships, bursaries and
awards with varying criteria.
Seneca College
Alumni Association
Entrance Awards
Awarded to first year full-time
students enrolled in any program.
Eligible students must be Canadian
citizens, permanent residents or
protected persons, Ontario residents
and have demonstrated financial need.
Applicants must be registered in a
full-time postsecondary program in
the Fall semester. This award is not
available to students in the Winter or
Summer semester.
Due Dates
Board of Governors’ Entrance
Scholarships & Seneca College
Alumni Association Entrance
Awards: August 31.
All other scholarships, bursaries
and awards: October 31.
Board of Governors’
Entrance Scholarships
There are six Board of Governors’
Entrance Scholarships that are
available to Canadian citizens,
permanent residents and protected
persons entering Seneca College
directly from high school. Applicants
must be registered in a full-time
postsecondary program in the
Fall semester. This award is not
available to students in the Winter
or Summer semester.
Visit our website to
learn more about:
• OSAP
• scholarships, bursaries
& awards
• hours & contact information
• FAQs
or to use our budget calculator
Head Start Tuition
Assistance Bursaries
Get a head start on your studies at
Seneca! You may qualify for up to
$2,000 in tuition assistance toward
your degree or up to $1,000 towards
your diploma or certificate. You can
apply online once you have paid
your fees.
See if you qualify at:
senecacollege.ca/financialaid
5
Housing & living
Residence
More than just a place to sleep,
residence provides you with the
opportunity to build friendships,
gain your independence, get in
on the action and experience life
on campus.
Residence is here to make your
transition to independent living
smooth and enjoyable. The
Residence Life team will work
hand-in-hand with you by providing
academic support, skill building and
social programming. After you have
attended Orientation, competed
in the RezCup Challenge and
participated in the many off-campus
events, you will agree: residence
was one of the most memorable and
rewarding times of your life.
Off-Campus
Housing
Student Services at Newnham,
King, Markham and Seneca @York
campuses maintains a housing
registry of shared and private offcampus accommodations available
to Seneca students.
Get more information at:
senecacollege.ca/housing
Places4Students
Seneca College maintains a
partnership with Places4Students
to help our students find
off-campus accommodations.
places4students.com
1.866.766.0767
seneca welcome guide 2014/15
BE PART OF THE GREAT
SENECA COMMUNITY
by living on-campus
or close to campus
NEW & IMPROVED
HIGH-SPEED, WI-FI
INTERNET ACCESS
NOW AVAILABLE
Newnham Campus
King Campus
Open to students studying
at all four campuses.
416.491.8811 ext. 5000
Open to King Campus students.
905.833.1650 ext. 5000
To book a tour of the Newnham
Residence, please contact:
[email protected]
To book a tour of the King
Residence, please contact:
[email protected]
Visit senecarez.ca for more information or to reserve
your guaranteed spot now. Guaranteed residence
terms and conditions are available online.
Housing & living
For information on shuttle, parking and zipcar
services, visit: senecacollege.ca/transportation
Food Service
Services to make life
at Seneca easier
Cafeterias are located at Newnham,
Seneca @York, Markham and King
campus. Meal plan memberships are
available for purchase at all cafeterias.
They are accepted at all Seneca
College Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza,
Starbucks, Subway and Manchu Wok
locations, and the Seneca College
Residence cafeteria.
Find out more at:
senecacollege.ca/mealplan
Health Insurance
To qualify you must be a domestic
full-time day students and a member
of the Seneca Student Federation.
You will automatically be enrolled in
a Health Insurance Plan that includes
prescription, accident, dental and
extended health insurance.
Learn about your plan at:
wespeakstudent.com
Zipcar
Campus Shuttle Service
Security
Zipcar, the popular car-sharing
service, is now offered at Seneca.
The cost-effective and convenient
transportation option is available at
Newnham campus, 24 hours a day,
seven days at week. All students
and employees age 21 and over, who
have a valid driver’s licence, can take
advantage of this service.
The Campus Shuttle provides
transportation for students and
employees between King, Markham,
Newnham and Seneca @York
campuses on weekdays.
College Security is responsible for the
safety of occupants, the protection of
college assets and the enforcement
of various college policies. Security is
provided at all four main campuses,
24 hours at day, seven days a week.
Parking
Security officers respond to safety and
security threats, investigate incidents,
provide first aid, manage access
control, provide general information
and control keys. At some locations,
College Security is available to escort
students or staff to their vehicle or
bus stop.
The annual membership fee is $20
for first year students and $25 after
that. There is also a hourly fee (which
includes the rental, insurance and gas)
that varies depending on the vehicle
and time of day. The membership fee
also entitles users to park for free at
designated Newnham campus spots.
Parking spaces are available for
daily parking at all major campuses.
Students are encouraged to walk,
use public transportation or carpool
whenever possible to save money and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information,visit:
senecacollege.ca/parking
For added safety, emergency
telephones are located at several
campuses. These phones are directly
linked to College Security. Surveillance
cameras are in place at various
locations at most campuses.
416.491.5050 ext. 22565
7
Student Services & Student Involvement
From supports and resources, to opportunities
to get involved on-campus, Seneca works to
ensure you’ll get the most out of college
Counselling & Accessibility
Services
Student Services
Student Services offers a variety of
programs to help you create your
unique student experience. We also
help you to navigate the campus
and the many resources available to
support you.
Visit the Student Services website at:
senecacollege.ca/student
Seneca Student Federation
The Seneca Student Federation
Incorporated (SSF Inc.) is your
student government representative
at Seneca College. The mandate of
the SSF Inc. is to provide services,
activities and a wide variety of
programs that meet the needs of
Seneca students, and to represent
the needs and concerns of students
to the college’s administration.
Connect with your student federation
at: ssfinc.ca
Degree and Credit Transfer
The Degree and Credit Transfer
Office at Seneca is available to advise
you on continuing your education
after Seneca. They will guide you
as you research your options, verify
requirements and assist you with the
application process. Seneca has a
wide variety of transfer agreements
and educational pathways to other
postsecondary institutions, both in
Canada and abroad.
For more information, please visit:
senecacollege.ca/degreetransfer
Career Services
Career Services provides a broad
range of job search and employment
services and resources for Seneca
students seeking full-time, parttime or seasonal employment. To
connect students with employers,
Career Services hosts career events
and workshops, including job fairs,
employer information sessions and
on-campus recruitment visits. Our
career co-ordinators offer individual
advisement to students on resume
and cover letter writing, interview
preparation and job search skills.
For more information visit:
senecacollege.ca/careerservices
First Peoples
All Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit students
are welcome at the First Peoples
@ Seneca office. Support includes
mentoring, Elder programs, cultural
events, speaker series, funding/
sponsorship assistance, and cultural
sensitive counselling. All Seneca
students are welcome to learn about
Aboriginal traditions and culture.
For more information, please visit:
senecacollege.ca/student/
first-peoples
seneca welcome guide 2014/15
Seneca’s professional counsellors
help students deal with personal
counselling issues, academic
accommodations and career
counselling. All students have access
to confidential consultation. There
are also qualified staff to address
the needs of those with learning,
visual, hearing or physical disabilities,
psychiatric impairment or mental
health concerns. The team includes
Counsellors, Assistive Technologists,
Learning Strategists and Admin
Support Staff.
Visit our website for more information:
senecacollege.ca/counselling
Summer Transition Program
If you have been accepted to a
program at Seneca College and have
an identified learning disability, you
can apply to attend the Summer
Transition Program. The Summer
Transition Program (STP) is funded by
the Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities and supported by various
departments at Seneca College.
STP is a four-day, in-residence
program designed to assist
students with identified learning
disabilities to make the transition
to postsecondary education.
For information or an application form,
see the counselling link above.
One card & college services
Extensive libraries, computing commons, and
technical services - it’s all right here
Get Technical Help
All Seneca College students are
provided with a college email
account and have access to SeneNet
(wired and wireless connectivity).
Application software varies by
campus and is based on “campus
specific” requirements. Support is
provided for inquiries such as using
College email, wireless connectivity,
access to My.Seneca (the college’s
Portal and Learning Management
System), ResNet support, SIRIS
(student timetable system and
more), troubleshooting hardware
and software issues, etc.
For more information:
[email protected]
416.491.5050 ext. 22129
Bookstore
Seneca College bookstores are located
at all four main campuses. Textbooks
and supplies can also be ordered
through the bookstore website:
seneca.bookware3000.ca
OneCard Services
Seneca’s chip-enabled OneCard
serves as the official Seneca photo
identification card for students. It
allows parking permit holders to gain
access to Seneca operated parking
lots at Markham, King and Newnham
campuses and allows cardholders, by
depositing funds into their OneCard
account online, to pay for purchases
of food, printing, parking and other
select services at participating
locations at Seneca campuses.
The OneCard is PIN protected to
provide OneCard holders greater
financial security.
The Seneca OneCard is a chipenabled card that makes life
on-campus easier. Find out more:
senecacollege.ca/onecard
Computing Commons
Libraries
Computing resources are for current
Seneca College students and
authentication “login” is required for
access. Printing (charge applies) and
scanning (no charge) services are
offered at all campuses.
Seneca Libraries support the academic
needs of students, faculty and staff
by offering research instruction,
facilitating access to scholarly
resources and enabling collaborative
work by providing group-study spaces.
Newnham Campus
Through the library website, the
college community has access to over
174 databases, an online stock photo
collection (for student assignments),
28,000+ streaming educational and
instruction videos, research tutorials,
online course readings, 193,000+
eBooks and over 75 different research
guides, all of which are available
online, 24/7. The library also provides
multi-media and print resources that
support all programs of study.
• 380 general use PCs and 60
in-lab PCs
• 8 PCs at the Learning Centre
• Supports King & Newnham Campus
Residence network connections
Seneca@York
• 220 general use PCs and 41
in-lab PCs
• 27 wired study carrels (for student
notebooks equipped with an
Ethernet card)
• 92 general use PCs
Seneca Libraries
staff offer assistance
through our AskUs
FAQ database, or
online at askON.ca,
a real-time chat
reference service.
Students are encouraged to take
advantage of our resources and
services to further their academic
endeavours.
For information on IT services and
Seneca’s Computing Commons hours,
visit: senecacollege.ca/its
For library hours and
additional information, visit:
library.senecacollege.ca
• 40 MACs (G5s)
• 6 PCs in the study rooms
• Photocopiers (charge applies)
Markham
• 155 general use PCs
• 5 MACs (G5s)
King
9
Athletics & recreation
SENECA HAS A LONG AND PROUD
TRADITION OF SPORTING EXCELLENCE
OFFERING THE VERY BEST IN VARSITY
AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
The Seneca Sting is
the most decorated
athletic program in
the history of the
Ontario Colleges
Athletic Association
(OCAA) HAVING WON 457
MEDALS – 188 GOLD, 162
SILVER AND 107 BRONZE
Seneca offers you lots of ways
to get your fitness fix with gyms
located at our four main campuses,
16 men’s and women’s varsity and
intramural sports teams and various
recreational activities.
Learn more about the programs
and services we have to offer:
senecasting.ca
Connect with the Seneca Sting:
facebook.com/SenecaSting
twitter.com/senecasting
seneca welcome guide 2014/15
program spotlights
Visit us and see what it’s like
to be a Seneca student
Program Spotlights take place each
year from February to April. Join
us to get in-depth information on
your chosen program, meet Seneca
faculty, staff and students, and see
the campus and facilities.
A campus tour is another great way
to experience Seneca. Individual and
group tours are offered year-round.
Register for a tour and get a firsthand glimpse of our labs, equipment
and facilities. You can also tour our
residences and get a feel for life
on campus.
For more information:
senecacollege.ca/visitus
student.recruitment@
senecacollege.ca
11
WHAT TO EXPECT
In University-College
Pathways
CO-OP AND FIELD
WORK EXPERIENCE
25000
full-time
students
Post-gradS
Degrees
Diplomas
PREP STUDIES
University
Pathways
Hybrid & Flexible
learning
INDUSTRYDRIVEN
COURSES
AND LABS
seneca welcome guide 2014/15
8000
graduates
every year
OVER
WHAT TO EXPECT
Applied
Research
Bursaries and
Scholarships
95%
Campuses
in the GTA,
York Region
and NOW
PETERBOROUGH
500+
380
EMPLOYER
SATISFACTION
Cross-disciplinary =
your program +
CAREER
OPTIONS
Business / Animation / Communications & Public Administration /
Media & Design / Performance / Community Services / Health Sciences /
Law & Public Safety / Recreation & Wellness / Aviation /
Hospitality & Tourism / Information & Communications Technology /
Science & Engineering Technology
13
ADMISSIONS OFFICE:
OR VISIT:
1750 Finch Avenue East
Toronto, ON
M2J 2X6 Canada
senecacollege.ca
facebook.com/senecacollege
PETERBOROUGH
PETERBOROUGH
NEWMARKET
SCHOMBERG
MK
FINCH AVE.
BLOOR ST.
GA
QEW
RD
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SS
VICTORIA PARK AVE.
DVP
BAYVIEW AVE.
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RD.
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YORK MILLS RD.
HWY. 7
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RIN ST
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BAY VIE
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MIDLAND AVE.
McCOWAN RD.
STEELES AVE.
LESLIE ST
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7
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MONCRIEF LINE
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40 4
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KING RD.
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BLOOMINGTON RD.
LESLIE
15th SIDEROAD
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MULOCK DR.
NM
AURORA
MOUNT ALBERT
SHARON
AIRPORT ROAD
AIRPORT
ROAD
HOLLAND LANDING
KG
twitter.com/senecacollege
NE AVE.
HW
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400
Y. 2
7
416.491.5050 ext. 22800
[email protected]
401
LAWRENCE AVE.
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2
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DANFORTH AVE.
WAY
TORONTO
PLEASE NOTE: MAP IS NOT TO SCALE. INFORMATION IS FOR REFERENCE ONLY AND MAY CHANGE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.
CAMPUSES
TRANSIT LEGEND
TTC Subway Routes
JN Jane
MK Markham
NH Newnham
SY Seneca@York
SC Scarborough
KG King
NM Newmarket
PA Peterborough
YG Yorkgate
VN Vaughan
21 Beverly Hills Drive
Toronto, ON M3L 1A2
13990 Dufferin Street
King City, ON L7B 1B3
8 The Seneca Way
Markham, ON L3R 5Y1
16655 Yonge Street
Newmarket, ON L3X 1V6
1750 Finch Avenue East
Toronto, ON M2J 2X5
925 Airport Road
Cavan Monaghan, ON K9J 0E7
70 The Pond Road
Toronto, ON M3J 3M6
1 York Gate Boulevard
Toronto, ON M3N 3A1
YRT Routes
3660 Midland Ave., 2nd floor,
Scarborough, ON M1V 0B8
1490 Major MacKenzie Drive,
Unit D5, Vaughan, ON L6A 4H6