Graduation Program

Q. What is the name of the adult credential?

A. The credential is the British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma, but it is informally known as the Adult Dogwood.

Q. When was the British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma implemented?

A. September 1, 1999.

Q. Can students transfer from the Adult Graduation Program to the Credit-Based Graduation Program, and vice versa?

A. Yes, until graduation credentials have been issued, a student can transfer from one program to the other. Program participation is indicated either in the data transfer, or on the 3008 Form. However, a student must be over 19 years of age or 18 years of age and out of school for one consecutive year to be eligible for the Adult Graduation Program. They must also do at least three courses as an "adult" to be eligible to graduate on Adult Graduation Program.

Q. Is there more information about courses that meet Adult Graduation Program requirements?

A. All four-credit grade 12 courses that are listed in Chapter 2(Ministry-Authorized) and Chapter 3(External Credentials) of Course Information 2005/06, plus Social Studies 11, can be used to meet the Adult Graduation Diploma requirements. Accounting 11 can be used as a Math foundation course on the Adult Graduation Program only.

Course Information 2006/07 may be downloaded from the Internet at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation/courseinfo/

Q. Do graduation program policies such as Challenge, Equivalency, and Independent Directed Study apply to the Adult Graduation Diploma?

A. The Challenge and Equivalency policies do apply. Schools are encouraged to use the Equivalency Policy to conduct Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) for adult students and to assign as many credits through equivalencies as can be warranted by documentation, professional judgment and sound education practice. The Independent Directed Study policies cannot apply since they usually result in courses with less than four credits, which cannot be used towards graduation on the Adult Program. IDS courses that are 4 credits also cannot be used as they are not complete Ministry-authorized curriculum.

Q. A student has completed Career and Personal Planning in grade 11 and 12. Can these two-credit courses be applied in the Adult Graduation Diploma?

A. A student with CAPP 11 and CAPP 12 credits can receive credit toward graduation in a combined, four-credit course CAPPA 12 that is available to Adult Program students only. CAPPA 12 will count as one of the required grade 12 courses on the Adult Graduation Program.

Please submit a Transcript and Examinations Change Form to delete CAPP 11 and CAPP 12 from the student record, and add CAPPA 12. The session completion will be the date that CAPP 12 was completed.

Q. Can a student use courses that were completed several years ago toward their adult dogwood?

A. Yes, as long as an adult student completes 3 courses after enrollment in the adult program or through prior learning, courses completed in the past can be applied towards meeting their Adult Dogwood requirements.

Q. A student takes a provincially examinable course, but elects not to write the exam. How should this be reported to the Ministry?

A. Report the course as non-examinable by writing a "Q" in front of the regular course code (e.g., QMA 12= Principles of Mathematics 12, non-examinable).

Q. Can a student receive credit for locally-developed (LD) or Board/Authority Authorized (BAA) courses towards their Adult Dogwood?

A. No. LD or BAA courses are not allowed for credit on the Adult Dogwood. Only 4 credit ministry-authroized curriculum or external, 4 credit courses are allowed.