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POLICY STATEMENT

Non-graduated adults may take courses leading to the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the Dogwood) or leading to the Adult Graduation Diploma (the Adult Dogwood). 

Starting September 1, 2008, graduated adults may take specific courses tuition-free under the conditions outlined below.

RATIONALE

Elimination of the cap on adult enrolment in regulation and the introduction of the Education Guarantee require this Adult Program policy be revised to include program criteria for both non-graduated and graduated adult students.

Additionally, the definition of “attendance” has been revised to include “active” and to define attendance requirements for students in Correctional Facilities.

The revised policy also redefines eligible courses to reference Ministry and Board/Authority Authorized courses because these are the specific courses that lead to a graduation diploma.  It removes the requirement that a non-graduated adult student be on a clear path to graduation because the new definition of eligible courses makes this requirement unnecessary.

LEGISLATION/REGULATIONS

School Act, section 168 (2) (b) and (5) and section 75(8):

168 (2) The minister may make orders for the purpose of carrying out any of the minister's powers, duties or functions under this Act and, without restriction, may make orders…

(b) subject to subsection (5) determining the general requirements for graduation from an educational program.

(5) The minister may, with the minister responsible for public post-secondary institutions, establish the requirements for obtaining the British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma.

75 (8) A board may, in accordance with any terms and conditions specified by the board, permit a person who is older than school age
(a) to attend an educational program, or
(b) to enrol and receive instruction in an educational program sufficient to meet the general requirements for graduation.

ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS

Attendance (for adult non-graduated and graduated students),
Graduated Students

POLICY

Non-Graduated Adults

A non-graduated adult student may take eligible courses that lead to the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the Dogwood) or that lead to the Adult Graduation Diploma (the Adult Dogwood).

Graduated Adults

Effective September 1, 2008 graduated adults may take, tuition-free, eligible courses offered at school district Continuing Education or K-12 schools through Phase 3 of the ‘Education Guarantee’. 

Phase 1 of the Education Guarantee was tuition-free courses for all students through the Province’s virtual school, LearnNowBC. This continues unchanged. Phase 2 began in January, 2008 and includes tuition-free Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses to graduated adults who choose to take courses through the post-secondary system.

PROCEDURES

Non-Graduated Adults

The requirements for the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the Dogwood) are defined in Ministerial Order 302/04, Graduation Program Order (2004 Graduation Program).

The requirements for the British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma are defined in Ministerial Order 320/04, British Columbia Adult Graduation Requirements Order.

A student is eligible for the adult graduation program if they are 19 years old, or 18 years old and have already been out of school for at least one year. The student must take at least three courses as an adult, either through enrolment or through receiving the credit through the Prior Learning Assessment process. Students can take courses from either colleges or school districts, or they can take courses from both systems and combine them together to achieve their adult graduation diploma.

Schools should encourage students to work toward a graduation diploma, ensure that students understand the requirements for graduation, and provide them with guidance in planning and course selection. 

Schools must report credits earned by students to the Ministry for entry on student transcripts for calculation of graduation eligibility.

Graduated Adults

Procedures and guidelines regarding Phase 3 of the ‘Education Guarantee’ are:

• The Board of Education must pass a motion that it intends to provide tuition-free education to graduated adults in Continuing Education and/or K-12 schools, and notify the Ministry when it has done so.
• Students must be ordinarily resident in B.C.; enrolled in the district; and under the supervision of, assessed and evaluated by a member of the BC College of Teachers.

All Adults

Boards are referred to the Adult Funding Policy for specific requirements pertaining to the funding eligibility of non-graduated and graduated adult students.