Mature Student Admissions Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear, fair, and legally compliant pathways for adult learners who do not possess a standard Canadian Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent) to gain admission into registered vocational diploma and certificate programs at Willis College.

2. Scope

• Applies to: Applicants seeking admission under “Mature Student Status” or “Alternate Admissions Status.”
• Applies in: All registered vocational diploma and certificate programs across all campuses operated by Willis College in Canada.

3. Definitions

Mature Student Status: An applicant status granted to adult learners who do not possess a standard high school credential but meet specific provincial age thresholds and demonstrate academic readiness through approved third-party testing.

Absolute Equivalent: Recognized secondary school equivalency credentials, such as the General Educational Development (GED) or the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC).

4. Policy Statement

Willis College is committed to providing accessible educational pathways for adult learners. An applicant may be considered for admission as a mature student if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They do not possess a Canadian secondary school diploma, an absolute equivalent (e.g., GED, CAEC), or a higher post-secondary credential.
• They meet the minimum age requirement established by the private career college regulatory body in the province where the program is being delivered, as of the first day of scheduled classes.
• They demonstrate the academic capacity to succeed in their chosen program of study by passing an approved third-party cognitive or academic achievement test.

Provincial Age & Regulatory Mapping

Because age thresholds and regulatory frameworks differ by province, Willis College evaluates mature student applicants according to the following regional standards:

5. Procedures

To be granted full admission to a vocational program under this policy, the applicant must complete the following entry pipeline sequentially:

1. Proof of Age: Provide a piece of valid, government-issued photo identification (e.g., Driver’s License, Passport, Provincial Photo Card) verifying they meet the provincial age requirement.
2. Academic Achievement Testing: Successfully achieve the minimum cut-off score on an independent, superintendent-approved aptitude test administered by the College. Willis College utilizes the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) or the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST). Alternative tests approved by provincial ministries may be substituted where required.
3. Program Prerequisites: Fulfill any non-academic, program-specific requirements (e.g., criminal record checks, immunization logs, or child abuse registry checks) as detailed in the specific program outline.
4. Language Proficiency: If English is not the applicant’s primary language, they must fulfill the College’s Language Proficiency Policy via an approved assessment instrument (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, or Canadian Language Benchmarks).

6. Compliance and Enforcement

• Testing Administration and Integrity: All mature student entrance exams are proctored and administered using standardized testing environments (either in-person or via secure, third-party remote proctoring software).
• Rewrites: Applicants who do not meet the minimum required score on their first attempt are permitted a maximum of one (1) rewrite after a mandatory waiting period of 24 hours. Subsequent attempts require the explicit written approval of the Campus Director and may require evidence of academic upgrading.
• Fees: Any fees associated with mature student testing are external administrative costs and are non-refundable, as permitted by provincial regulations.

7. Documentation and Record Retention

All documentation relating to the evaluation and admission of a mature student—including copies of government ID, signed test score receipts, and proctor logs—must be permanently retained within the student’s academic file in compliance with provincial privacy and private career college record retention regulations.

8. Related Documents

• Policies: Language Proficiency Policy, Admissions Policy.
• Procedures/Standards: Provincial Private Career/Vocational College Acts, Codes, and Standards.
• Forms/Templates: Wonderlic Testing Logs, Enrollment Agreement.

Advisory and Policy Review Procedures

The Admissions and Compliance Committee will review this policy on an annual basis and make recommendations to the Campus Director to ensure ongoing alignment with provincial private career college regulatory frameworks.