Sacred Heart College can grant degrees

Sacred Heart College, a new liberal arts college, has received official consent from the province to grant a four-year bachelor of arts (Honours) degree in Catholic studies.

The college issued a release on Wednesday stating that consent has come from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

It was expected: The Examiner reported in January that the college was going to open in September and that the province had already approved the plan to have it grant degrees.

What was missing was an official letter of consent, which the college says it has now obtained.

The college has been in the works for awhile.

Since 2011, courses have been offered in the large red-brick rectory located between Sacred Heart Church and Monseigneur-Jamot on Romaine St.

Earlier this week, The Examiner reported a setback in the evolution of Sacred Heart College.

The college had been hoping to acquire Monseigneur-Jamot school from the area’s French Catholic school board when the French school moves to a new building on Woodglade Blvd. in September.

But the French Catholic school board was accepting bids on the property and it sold the site to local development firm Parkview Homes.

Owner Paul Dietrich said he will convert the school into an apartment complex.

The college issued a press release Monday stating that the loss of the Jamot building was going to put the plans for the college’s future “in jeopardy.”

Deirdre Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, stated in an email Wednesday that for now the college will remain in its current location in the rectory.

The college’s interim principal, Rev. Joseph Devereaux, states in the press release that the consent from the province is “excellent news.”

“This is a hopeful, affirming sign which enlivens our commitment and determination to further the college and ensure its success,” he stated.

Tom Symons, the chairman of the college board of directors, also said the consent from the province was great news.

He said he’s often thought of the founding of the college as “a noble endeavour”.

“The letter of consent is one more measure which affirms the strength and vitality of Sacred Heart College,” he stated.