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The Collegium in Kansas City Message
Welcome The Collegium educates and forms students through the traditions of the Church to restore all things in Christ Edward Schaefer founder and president In the fall of 2025 The Collegium entered a new chapter in our history a relocation to Kansas City Missouri This dynamic city located in the heart of the country is home to a vibrant and growing traditional Catholic community supported by several traditional religious orders Our move to Kansas City allows us to strengthen and fulfill our mission We remain a community of faith filled scholars committed to transforming our own lives and through that transformation to changing the world Higher education is evolving out of necessity In response The Collegium offers a model unlike any other institution one ensuring that college education remains faithful to the unchanging Magisterium of the Church affordable for families seeking this formation a place where the future leaders of the Church and society are formed I warmly invite you to join us in this great mission Contents Welcome 2 Why Choose The Collegium 3 A Newman Guide College 4 Academic Life 5 Faculty 6 Classes 8 Spiritual Life 9 Campus Life 10 Preparing for Life Beyond The Collegium 13 Admission to The Collegium 15
What Makes The Collegium Unlike Any Other College At The Collegium every aspect of our college experience is intentionally designed to form students intellectually spiritually and practically Nine key elements set us apart Total Integration At The Collegium academics spiritual formation work and community life are not separate tracks but woven into a seamless experience Every part of student life reinforces and enriches the others fostering a truly holistic education A Unique Curriculum Rooted in Tradition Our curriculum is inspired by the Ratio Studiorum a rigorous educational model developed in the 16th century to shape leaders for the Church and society This timetested approach forms sharp minds deep thinkers and faithful leaders Deep Spiritual Formation Faith isn t just an aspect of life at The Collegium it is its foundation Students participate in daily Mass the Divine Office the Angelus grace before and after meals prayer before and after class the daily Rosary spiritual direction regular confession and adoration Ora et Labora Every student at The Collegium participates in meaningful work Rooted in the Benedictine model of Prayer and Labor our program instills a sense of purpose in every task whether grand or humble Students learn to approach work as a form of giving while also developing entrepreneurial skills that foster leadership resilience and innovation Unwavering Commitment to Affordability What s more affordable than free At The Collegium we charge no tuition or instruction related fees Students are only responsible for books the cost of housing which we provide and other miscellaneous expenses not directly tied to instruction A Close Knit Family Like Community With our intentionally small size The Collegium offers an environment where students truly know one another The result Deep friendships strong mentorship and a genuine sense of belonging A Love for Tradition We don t just respect or accommodate tradition we embrace it The sacred traditions of the Church handed down from Christ the Apostles and faithful generations are not relics of the past They are the pathway to heaven and at The Collegium they remain at the heart of everything we do 3
A Prime Location in Kansas City Home to a vibrant and welcoming traditional Catholic community Kansas City offers students a rich cultural scene faith filled experiences and diverse opportunities for both recreation and service Recognized in the Newman Guide The Collegium is honored to be among the select institutions recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society for faithful Catholic education a testament to our unwavering commitment to truth tradition and excellence God has a purpose for every one of The Collegium students and there is not pride but humility in the Christian who embraces knowledge contemplates God and shares in this work of the Holy Spirit Patrick Reilly President of the Cardinal Newman Society Click here or scan to see our listing in The Newman Guide 4
Academic Life Curriculum Our curriculum is inspired by the Ratio Studiorum a rigorous educational model developed in the 16th century to cultivate leaders for the Church and society This time tested approach sharpens minds deepens critical thinking and forms faithful leaders We offer a unified curriculum as shown below Class Materials and Teaching Methods While we emphasize primary sources in our courses we are not strictly a Great Books program We believe that supplementing these classic texts with more recent scholarship enhances understanding and allows students to engage more deeply with the great books when they encounter them Our teaching approach is dynamic and adaptable We incorporate Socratic discussions lectures presentations projects and other methods tailored to both the subject matter and individual learning styles 5
Faculty Our faculty members are exceptionally qualified and deeply dedicated teachers Each is a practicing traditional Catholic who has signed both the Oath Against Modernism and the Oath of Fidelity Phillip Berns Academic Dean Faculty MA in Philosophy Tulane University MTS Notre Dame Seminary PhD candidate in Philosophy University of St Thomas Houston Expertise in Aristotle St Thomas Aquinas and the Philosophy of Economics Experience teaching Theology and Philosophy and singing in and directing scholas Sarah Boyle Faculty PhD in Physics University of New Hampshire MS in Psychology Divine Mercy University NASA research scientist Expertise in Small Business Innovation Research Joseph Clark Faculty PhD in Information Systems University of Southern California MBA Tulane University Software developer web developer database expert and data scientist with broad and deep experience Janet Cruz Faculty MFA in Painting and Drawing New Mexico State University 28 years of teaching Art and Art History 6
Giordano Cuatto Registrar Faculty MA in Classical Studies University of Wales Trinity St David Master Diploma in Latin University of Kentucky 12 years of teaching Latin at multiple levels Ginna Pennance Acevedo Dean of Women Faculty MA in Philosophy University of Dallas PhD candidate in Philosophy University of St Thomas Houston Expertise in Aristotle St Thomas Aquinas and the Natural Law Experience teaching Philosophy and the Trivium William Stover Faculty MA in Classical Philology University of Virginia MA in Classics University of Notre Dame Expertise in Ancient Historiography Cultural Perception in the Ancient World Greek and Latin Philology Paleography and Codicology Online Courses We are primarily an in person institution because we believe this approach best fosters the holistic Collegium experience integrating academic spiritual community and work life At the same time we understand that some students may need to study from home for various reasons To accommodate this we offer the option to complete freshman year courses online over one or two years after which students can transition to the in person program as sophomores Online courses flyer Our online courses are taught synchronously allowing students to stream into our regularly scheduled in person classes in real time https qr codes pPDrRV Click here or scan for more information 7
Classes Classes offices practice rooms library and dining are housed in the historic Old Public Library directly behind Old St Patrick s Oratory Noah Maryland I love how in tune the faculty is to the needs and wants of the students Classes are always interesting and the students are all enjoyable 8
Spiritual Life At The Collegium nurturing the faith is not an addition it is the foundation There is no Office of Campus Ministry because the spiritual life is not compartmentalized it permeates every aspect of our community We have daily Mass the Rosary portions of the Divine Office the Angelus grace before and after meals and prayer before and after class Our spiritual life is anchored by the presence of the Institute of Christ the King at Old St Patrick Oratory just across the street from housing Regularly scheduled confessions adoration and various devotions are held at the Oratory and spiritual direction is offered by the priests of the Institute Aly California I love that I can grow in my faith through my education The Oratory hosts a thriving and ever expanding traditional Catholic community enhancing The Collegium s spiritual life through regular devotions feast day celebrations processions and various parish events Vocations For students discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life we provide both a structured prayer life and a strong foundation in philosophy and theology to support their preparation 9
Campus Life Kansas City MO We are proud to be in the center of Kansas City the Heart of America But KC is more than just centrally located it is the City of Fountains boasting more fountains than any city in the world except Rome and it is renowned as the BBQ Capital of the World These are just glimpses of KC s vibrancy There s always something to see do and experience in this dynamic city Housing Our students live in two buildings The Dial Apartments for women and The Manhattan Condominiums for men Both are conveniently located directly across the street from Old St Patrick Oratory and the Old Public Library where classes are held 10
Meals Meals are a central part of daily life bringing us together as a community to share conversation and foster camaraderie Musical Culture While musical ability isn t required to attend The Collegium our rich musical culture is something everyone can enjoy Each day we sing Vespers or Lauds in the traditional Benedictine manner Our books are infused with the notation from 10thcentury manuscripts We sing the Angelus at noon and before dinner and grace before and after meals We pray at the beginning and conclusion of our classes and our Schola is an extraordinary group that sings for Masses and special occasions enriching the spiritual and artistic life of our community Schola II Online courses flyer https qr codes S6Ker2 https qr codes 1SQ8WG Hear the Schola on YouTube with these links or these scans https youtu be GwTIx2ao2wU https youtu be GVFqvOjeb_M Marcie Pennsylvania I really appreciate the opportunities for singing Lauds and Vespers 11
Activities At a small college like The Collegium student led activities thrive with faculty support Whatever your interests we ll help you bring them to life We also enjoy regular community events including Movie nights and game nights Day trips or as we call them COG Days Class on the Go to special places and events Faculty debates Book and Important Events discussions Culinary showcases where students and faculty share their cooking talents More than anything being part of The Collegium means forming deep lasting friendships relationships that will endure well beyond your college years Mary Maryland I love the sense of community that we have here Everyone got really close extremely quickly and everyone supports everyone else It feels like one big family 12
Preparing for Life Beyond The Collegium Work Faith and the Calling to Give The way Americans work has changed dramatically and with it the view of work as part of living a Catholic life has faded Before the Industrial Revolution families often ran businesses together farms trades shops Children were raised within the family business learning not just job skills but a mindset of responsibility and contribution For example a child in a family run restaurant might later open a store using the work ethic problem solving and customer service skills he learned More importantly he saw himself not just as a consumer but as a producer a creator of value Today work is often hidden from children Parents are away all day and siblings grow up disconnected from the labor that sustains them They learn to consume not to contribute Yet work is more than a paycheck to support consumption it s a spiritual exercise When we approach work as a form of giving it becomes an offering that nourishes our souls our families and our communities It becomes an extension of a Catholic spiritual life a life of giving that is modeled on the ultimate gift of Christ Ora et Labora At The Collegium every student participates in our Ora et Labora Prayer and Work program which fosters this understanding of work in two key ways 1 Recognizing work whether prestigious or humble as a means of living out the Catholic call to give 2 Engaging entrepreneurial opportunities that cultivate leadership resilience and innovation Ora et Labora is not just an add on to academics and spiritual formation it is woven into the very fabric of Collegium life It teaches students to approach work with purpose faith and generosity preparing them to be givers long after their time at The Collegium givers to God to their families and to society Click here or scan to see our current Ora etLabora Labora projects Ora et 2025 https qr codes M1AumG 13
Professions A liberal arts degree prepares students for a wide range of careers In fact aside from a few specialized fields requiring specific technical skills a liberal arts education provides excellent preparation for most professions by fostering critical Parvus Liber 2025 thinking communication and problem solving skills https qr codes GtrKqn Click here or scan to explore more Graduate School A liberal arts degree also serves as a strong foundation for graduate studies across various disciplines Parvus Liber 2025 https qr codes GtrKqn Click here or scan to explore more Medical School The Collegium offers a strong intellectual foundation for students pursuing medical careers However some science and math courses required for the MCAT are not part of our curriculum To address this we have partnered with the University of Missouri Kansas City UMKC allowing students to take these necessary courses UMKC is just a trolley ride away and our class schedules are designed to accommodate students taking additional MCAT Prep coursework there https qr codes XTY1t8 Click here or scan to learn more about our medical school pathway Teacher Preparation The demand for independent classical schools is growing with new institutions opening each year Many of these schools seek teachers well versed in the classical curriculum and Collegium graduates are uniquely prepared for this role While we do not offer teacher certification we have partnered with the Institute for MCAT Prep Catholic Liberal Education ICLE to allow our students to begin ICLE s certification process during their senior year https qr codes XTY1t8 Click here or scan to find out more about teacher prepartion opportunities 14
Admission to The Collegium Our Students Collegium students come from across the country bringing with them diverse talents and passions Some are musicians others are writers some have athletic interests and many are bilingual What unites them all is intellectual curiosity a love of reading a positive attitude and a spirit of adventure embracing the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing institution The States Our Students Call Home Maryland Virginia Pennsylvania New York Indiana Missouri Tennessee Texas California and Oregon Student Backgrounds High School Backgrounds 90 of our students were homeschoolers 10 attended private Catholic high schools Academic Excellence The average high school GPA was 3 8 The median high school GPA was 3 75 Faith Religious Practice 100 of our students are practicing Catholics 90 regularly attend the Traditional Latin Mass TLM The remaining 10 attend another form of the Mass when the TLM is unavailable to them Admissions Requirements Deadlines and the Process Application details for The Collegium are here Admissions https qr codes skLIzR Click here or scan Summer Week Join this week long experience for high school juniors and seniors living on campus attending sample classes praying in the Oratory and exploring Kansas City Details are posted in December on the home page of The Collegium website 15
The Collegium Faithful Affordable Traditional Website https qr link pFzmHJ www the collegium org 412 913 2985