International Students
Summit Pacific College is pleased to consider international students for admission; however, students should note the following:
International students are welcome to apply to Summit Pacific College, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to receive a "student visa permit" from the Government of Canada. Interested applicants should go to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at the Government of Canada web site for details and procedures.
Summit Pacific College does not offer full tuition and/or room and board scholarships.
International students must pay full tuition and fees for their first college year before SPC can provide any letters required for a student VISA.
International students must provide evidence of an adequate working knowledge of English by submitting IELTS (Academic), or TOEFL (iBT) with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS, or a minimum score of 80 on TOEFL iBT.
International students who are not able to fulfil the requirements listed above are recommended to seek alternate avenues of education.
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Our international students liaison is the Director of Enrolment Services. If an international student is having issues of any kind, they can meet with this staff member and be directed to the necessary resources.
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SPC is made up of a diverse community of believers and subscribes to the equal rights of all to pursue excellence in their lives without inhibitions based on gender, race, or ethnicity. Through class instruction and various chapels, we seek to create an environment in which students learn the importance of balancing respect for other cultures with a healthy acknowledgment of the strengths and limitations of their own. Racial, ethnic or gender discrimination in any form is not condoned in Scripture and is not acceptable (Galatians 3:28).
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The following are precautionary measures that can minimize the risk of danger.
1. Theft/Personal Belongings
Rooms and dwelling doors should be locked when unoccupied.
Expensive or important personal belongings should be identified with permanent identification.
2. Walking On/Off Campus
As a safety precaution, students should not walk or jog alone especially after dark.
When walking after dark, light-coloured clothing or light-reflective material is strongly advised.
When walking along roadways, traffic safety rules advise the use of the left side of the road (facing oncoming traffic).
A student who suspects they are being followed, should turn around to check, and if suspicions are confirmed, should make a loud noise, scream, or create a scene. Noise is often successful in preventing an attack.
A student who suspects a car is following them should run in the opposite direction.
3. Vehicle
Vehicles should be locked.
Valuables should never be left in vehicles.
Recommended items to carry include: fully-charged cell phone, first aid kit, blanket, water, and snack.
When travelling, doors should be kept locked at all times. If someone tries to enter the vehicle, it is a good idea to blow the horn and drive away as quickly as possible.
Should the vehicle break down or run out of gas, the student should call for assistance.
Should a stranded motorist be encountered, the best way to help is to call for assistance and not stop.
4. Public Transportation
Students are advised to inform someone of their travel plans and to know and plan their route in advance.
It is advisable to wait in busy, well-lit areas.
Students should be mindful of their surroundings at all times.
5. Hitchhiking
This is an unsafe practice and should be avoided.
Picking up hitchhikers is equally dangerous.
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It is important to be aware of critical incident stress. Traumatic events shake the foundation of our belief and shatter our assumptions about trust. When we witness or experience a traumatic event that involves actual or threatened death or injury to us, we feel fearful, helpless, and overwhelmed. It is important in the development of a crisis plan to have staff trained in recognizing and defusing the stress reactions of those involved.
Critical incident stress refers to the emotional (feelings), physical (body), cognitive (thinking), and behavioral (action) reactions to a traumatic situation. Acute critical incident stress reaction may occur during an actual incident. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when an individual who experienced, witnessed, or participated in a traumatic event has recurring episodes in which they re-experience the traumatic event. PTSD rarely appears during the trauma itself; the disorder often surfaces several months or even years later. PTSD is a disorder that may only be diagnosed by a qualified professional.
In order to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of PTSD, it is good to be aware of the symptoms of PTSD and know how to debrief the trauma with those affected. Critical incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms, which can appear a few hours after the event or within a few days. The more stress symptoms are experienced, the more powerful the reaction. The longer the symptoms last, the more potential there is for permanent harm. Stress symptoms usually occur in four different categories: emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral.
Emotional (Feelings):
Anxiety and/or fear.
Grief.
Guilt or shame
Depression or moodiness.
Anger, irritability, resentment, scapegoating.
Emotional numbing or outbursts.
Feeling lost, abandoned and helpless.
Feelings of emptiness and hopelessness.
Physical (Body):
Nausea, upset stomach, sweating, profuse tremors.
Disorientation and loss of coordination.
Rapid heart rate and blood pressure increase.
Hyperventilation, chest pains, headaches.
Chills, dizziness, sleep disturbance.
Avoids sleeping and being alone.
Loss of appetite or overeating.
Ignoring one’s own physical needs.
Cognitive (Thinking):
Impaired thinking and decision-making.
Poor concentration and confusion.
Difficulty performing calculations.
Memory problems.
Flashbacks, recurring memories.
Poor attention span.
Time distortion and perception alternations.
Over-concerned with health and safety.
Pessimistic expectation of the future.
Self-blame
Inability to trust others.
Behavioral (Actions):
Avoidance of the setting that reminds the victim of the trauma.
Withdrawal from social situations.
Use of chemicals to numb pain.
Survival guilt.
Hyper-vigilance.
Abuse of drugs or alcohol.
Drop in school/work performance.
Sudden changes in attitudes, styles and relationships.
Impulsiveness.
Relational problems.
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Debriefing offers a structure for listening and talking. It opens the door for people to share. It helps one to discover how others feel and for them to understand what happened. It allows everyone to feel stronger and less vulnerable. It normalizes the response to the trauma. It can be a time to teach appropriate coping skills. It helps in adjusting to the trauma. Debriefing will not heal the wounds overnight, but it will help speed the healing and recovery rate. This should be done as immediately after the incident as possible.
Outline for Debriefing/Defusing:
Provide a safe and supportive environment for venting of initial reactions, details, and stories about the event.
Provide information about the incident. Be open to questions. Correct misinformation and misconceptions.
Share feelings experienced during the incident and now. Share and validate fears.
Normalize the reactions and provide support. What one is thinking or feeling is normal.
Indicate when follow-up will be provided.
Grief Reactions
With many types of crisis and emergency situations, individuals are faced with losses – loss of a loved one, and/or loss of a sense of security and safety, etc. It should be noted that grieving takes time and that there is no one “right” way to grieve or to help someone who is grieving.
Grief is a natural and normal healing response, which is initiated whenever a loss is experienced. Grief is not a single emotion, but rather it is a collection of feelings that can be expressed through a variety of behaviors and thoughts. Because there are many ways to express grief, there are many ways to resolve grief.
Grief is the healthiest way to accept a loss and gain perspective on the changes the individual now faces. Loss occurs when someone is deprived of someone or something that gives that person meaning, safety or identity. Grief helps a person face the reality of the loss, to recover and to grow through the experience.
Each person experiences grief differently, yet there are common patterns that have been called “the grieving process.” No matter what type of loss is experienced, the same process is generally worked through, although the duration and intensity will differ depending on the circumstances, the age of the person, and the openness of those around the individual to assist in the process of healing. Individuals generally move back and forth between the stages in the grieving process and there is no set time when a person reaches the final stage.
Shock and Denial
Numbness, expressionlessness, disbelief.
Quiet, random, disorganized.
Unwillingness to talk about the loss; keeping busy.
Loss of appetite,
Forgetting appointments.
Anger and Guilt
Blaming self, others or God.
Emotional reactions – yelling, arguing.
Rude and uncooperative with others.
May punish self, feeling guilty.
Bargaining
Trying to think of how it could have been different.
Wishing that earlier interaction could have been done.
Making promises to self or others about being a “better” person.
Depression
Feelings of isolation, sadness, emptiness, withdrawing into silence.
Crying frequently.
Becoming passive, listless and disinterested in normal activities.
Acceptance
Letting go of anger and depression and begins to share memories.
Being able to care for self and others.
Making plans for the future; reorganized life and feeling hopeful.
Mugging / Self-Defence
Students should be aware of their environment and avoid risks that put them in danger, such as being out alone at night. Students should be familiar with their physical surroundings, knowing where the safe walking, best lighting, and parking areas are located.
It is advisable to not carry large amounts of cash when walking.
Vehicle keys should be carried in one’s hand to avoid searching for them.
If attacked by an armed assailant, it is best to not resist. The best recourse is to make a loud noise, scream, or create a scene.
The student should make protecting their person the prime objective over protecting their possessions.
After the attack, the police should be called. Every effort should be made to observe identifying features and characteristics of the assailant. An attempt should be made to obtain the make, model, year, and license plate number of a getaway car if one is involved, noting the exact time and location of the incident, and the direction in which the assailant fled.
If you see any suspicious person on campus, immediately contact a Campus Pastor, a Resident Supervisor/Assistant, or the Vice-President of Student Services.
POLICY AND PROCEDURE:
Grievance
All members of the SPC community – faculty, staff, and students – are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and to adhere to SPC policies, procedures, and guidelines. At the same time, it is recognized that conflicts may arise in personal and community relationships.
The following guidelines and policies are set in place to assist SPC community members with procedures that should bring fair resolution to all parties when issues arise.
Procedural Fairness
Students have the right to be informed of policies, procedures or guidelines that may affect them, and have the right to question whether decisions are consistent with those policies, procedures, or guidelines. Therefore, these policies are published in the documents noted below.
1. Conflict Resolution (cf. Student Handbook)
Student-Student:
Students should strive to live in harmony; however, conflicts, tensions, misunderstandings, failures, and disagreements are inevitable. In Christian love, respect, and responsibility, students are encouraged to seek resolution, except in certain cases of sexual harassment, and in cases of sexual assault and sexual violence (for which there are specific policies as noted in this Handbook). It is expected that, as both learners and members of this community, students will seek mutual solutions to problems that arise within the context of daily living together. Matthew 18:15-17 gives directions for resolution: first going to the person with whom one has the conflict/disagreement, etc. to make a sincere attempt at working things out before involving student leaders and then the Campus Pastors. James 1:19 encourages us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry”, allowing for facts to be established and to promote reconciliation. It is preferable to seek resolution early: Ephesians 4:26b says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (NIV)”.
Student-Faculty/Staff: (Same as above)
In the case of non-resolution, the matter should be discussed with the appropriate administrative officer: The Vice-President of Academics, the Vice-President of Student Services, or the Vice-President of HR and External Relations. If the conflict is still not resolved, a letter stating the problems/requests should be addressed to the President.
2. Student Feedback Forms (cf. Student Handbook)
Students may provide constructive feedback on any issues related to academics and campus life through Feedback Forms available through Forms & Procedures via Canvas or the college portal. This information will be reviewed and addressed by the Vice-President of Student Services and submitted to the Operations Committee for evaluation.
3. Right of Appeal Regarding Student Life Decisions (cf. Student Handbook)
Appeals to the Student Life Committee:
The decision of the Vice-President of Student Services may only be appealed by the student to the Student Life Committee in the following disciplinary cases: a) restrictions, b) fines over $100.00. An appeal to the Committee must be filed in writing to the office of the Vice-President of Student Services within 24 hours of receiving notification of a decision from the Vice-President of Student Services. The decision of the Committee is final unless an appeal to the President is permitted under this policy.
Appeals to the President:
The decision of the Student Life Committee may only be appealed by the student to the President in the following disciplinary cases: a) disciplinary probation, b) suspension, c) dismissal. It must be filed in writing to the Office of the President within 24 hours of receiving written notification of the decision of the Committee. The decision of the President shall be final. The decision of the President shall be reported orally to the student immediately following the rendering of the decision. This decision shall be sent in writing to the Vice-President of Student Services within 24 hours
4. Academic Appeal (cf. College Catalogue)
A student wishing to appeal a grade decision (e.g., exam, assignment, music jury, audition decision, etc.) may do so according to the following procedure:
The appeal and the reasons for it must be submitted in writing to the Vice-President of Academics within one month of the issue of the grade.
The Dean will investigate the appeal with the respective instructor and in writing will either confirm the original grade decision or report a modified grade.
Should the Vice-President of Academics confirm the current grade decision and the student still wish to appeal the same, a written appeal may be submitted to the Academic Standards Review Committee. This Committee will consist of the Vice-President of Academics, the President of the college, the Vice-President of Student Services, and the Student Council President (or designated substitute). The Committee will fully investigate the complaint and make its decision. In all cases the decision of the Committee will be final and binding on both parties.
Note: If the appeal is against any member of the Academic Standards Review Committee, then that member will step aside and be replaced for the duration of the investigation.
Emergency Response Team
There are many components to SPC’s Emergency Response structure. This structure is designed to manage appropriately both the short- and long-term implications of a crisis situation.
The emergency response team is made up of designated members of the Operations Committee: the Vice-President of Student Services, the Vice-President of Academics, the President, and the Vice-President of Finances and Operations. The Campus Pastors and other faculty/staff members may be added at the discretion of the committee.
The committee member in closest proximity to the emergency has the authority to initiate whatever action deemed necessary or advisable.
As soon as practical, either directly or by delegating, the other committee members are to be informed.
Vice-President of Student Services
The Vice-President of Student Services is designated to be the Emergency Controller in the event of a SPC community emergency/crisis. It is his/her responsibility to alert students, staff, and faculty and to assemble teams to manage this emergency/crisis. The Emergency Controller will take the following actions as deemed necessary: alert and assign duties as may be required to respond to the particular emergency/crisis; ensure that the President and other administrators are kept well informed; and ensure that appropriate responses to the immediate emergency/crisis are being made, especially in the early hours of the emergency/crisis development.
Vice-President of Academics
The Vice-President of Academics is designated to assist the Vice-President of Student Services in the event of an emergency/crisis involving a faculty member or in the event that classes or studies are disrupted. The Vice-President of Student Services may also request the assistance of the Vice-President of Academics for other situations.
President
The President is responsible for internal and external communication and all public relations related to the crisis. His/her responsibility is to coordinate the dissemination of information to the general public, most commonly through media outlets. The President will manage relationships with print and electronic media, prepare press releases and other statements, ensure that media personnel on the college campus are properly cared for, protect family and college privacy, and ensure a timely flow of accurate information to the public and the media as the chief college spokesperson. The President is also required to be involved in the plans of action for all long-term responses to the emergency/crisis.
Vice-President of Finances and Operations
The Vice-President of Finances and Operations is responsible for the administrative services and financial operations of the college that are affected by the emergency/crisis (buildings, campus facilities, power, water, road access, etc.). The Vice-President of Student Services may also request the assistance of the Vice-President of Finances and Operations for other situations.