Program Information

University of Guelph

1996-97 Undergraduate Calendar

XIII--Associate Diploma

Program Information

The program includes agriculturally-oriented courses in science and business along with other courses to enable its graduates to make a meaningful contribution in their chosen field. The principles on which application is based are developed in the initial stages of the program to enable students to understand the basic reasons for recommended practice. Graduates become farm managers and operators, horticulturists, or follow careers in business and industries related to agriculture.

The Guelph program begins each September, runs for two semesters until late April, and has a one-semester summer break. It resumes again in September and its students graduate the following spring with an Associate Diploma in Agriculture. After completing a common first semester of courses, students will follow one of the three divisions in the program. They are Agricultural Business, Farm Operators and Managers, and Horticulture. Each division includes specified and elective courses as shown in the Schedule of Studies. Course descriptions may be found elsewhere in this calendar. There is also a Co-operative Education program in the Horticulture Division.

A series of organized field study programs is included in the Guelph program. Field study helps students examine agricultural production, processing, merchandising and utilization systems. Classes visit off-campus locations to meet key figures in agriculture, and study organizations and facilities involved in the agricultural and horticultural industries.Each student pays a fee upon registration in each field study course to defray transportation expenses.

Schedule of Dates

Refer to Section III--Schedule of Dates. The schedule is the same as that for other programs. Students can be registered in the Associate Diploma program only during the Fall and Winter semesters with the exception of the Co-op students.

Admission to the Program

Subject Requirements

Applicants for admission to the first semester of the Associate Diploma in Agriculture program should present as a minimum requirement either the Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma (OSSGD), the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants should include a credit in mathematics from the senior division at the Grade 12 (Year 4) graduating level. Applicants who do not meet the mathematics requirement but otherwise have a good academic record and relevant experience, may be considered for admission. Applicants without such experience may have their applications considered after an interview with the director or his designate.

Recommendations and Notes

A final decision on the admissibility of an applicant will be based on academic performance, and if required by the Admissions Committee, on review of a Background Information Form for the Associate Diploma in Agriculture program.

Application for Admission to Associate Diploma in Agriculture

Application for admission should be made on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre form and submitted to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, Box 1328, Guelph, Ontario, N1E 7P4 or directly to Admissions, Office of the Registrar, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1. For those presently attending an Ontario secondary school, the form is available in the guidance office.

Each student applying for admission may subsequently be required to complete and submit a Background Information Form. Applications for the program may exceed an established quota and candidates, therefore, are urged to submit their application for admission as early as possible. Normally admission decisions will be released commencing in April. Candidates not admitted to the program should consider one of the three colleges of Agricultural Technology supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. Conditional acceptance may be granted to those students currently attending Year 4 (Grade 12) on a full-time basis who submit an application, an interim grade report, and if required complete a Background Information Form. For those currently enrolled in OAC courses, an offer of admission may be extended upon receipt of an official transcript and an application form. On request, a student may be exempted from taking any course providing they demonstrate that they have standing in a course deemed equivalent by the instructor in consultation with the director of the program. Students should consult the director or his designate concerning such exemption.

Associate Diploma Regulations

Program of Study

A student proceeding towards an Associate Diploma must follow a program of studies approved by the Program Committee for the Associate Diploma in Agriculture.

Time Allowed to Complete Program

The approved program must be completed within five consecutive calendar years from the time of initial registration at the University. This applies to part-time as well as full-time students.

Residence Requirement

The academic residence requirement is registration as a full-time student for four semesters, or the equivalent as a part-time student. A student registered as part-time may count a semester of residence credit when the total courses taken equal the normal semester course load of a full-time student in the program. The student must be registered for at least one semester as a full-time student.

Electives

Approved programs are described in the schedule of studies and consist of core (required) courses and elective courses. A student may take additional electives above the normal course load at the discretion of, and with the written permission of the director of the program. Electives taken as additional courses become an integral part of the student's program.

Course Attempt

Each course for which a student is registered is defined as a course attempt. A supplemental condition shall not constitute an additional course attempt. The grade assigned for each course attempt will become part of the student's academic record.

Grade in a Course

A numerical grade shall be awarded for each course attempt with standing indicated as follows:

Percentage Range Letter Grade Equivalent
90-100 A+
85-89 A
80-84 A-
77-79 B+
73-76 B
70-72 B-
67-69 C+
63-66 C
60-62 C-
57-59 D+
53-56 D
50-52 D-
0-49 F

The minimum passing grade in any course is 50%.

Special Cases

Credit for a course also may be granted by the program committee for the Associate Diploma in Agriculture in the following circumstances:

Upon successful completion of a supplemental condition, or
Upon recommendation of the instructor, as outlined in Section VIII--Undergraduate Degree Regulations & Procedures.

Final Examinations

Final examinations will be held at the conclusion of each semester in which the program is offered.

Continuation of Study -- Schedule E

In general, continuation of study within the program is permitted provided the student:

does not exceed two failures in any one semester and does not exceed, in a given number of course attempts, the number of course failures as listed below:
achieves a prescribed number of 60% level grades as listed below.

If the prescribed number of 60% level grades is not achieved, or if the student fails more than 2 courses in any 1 semester, the student will be required to withdraw from the program for a period of not less than 1 semester, and then shall be eligible to apply to be re-admitted to the program at the next time the semester is offered. The student will be informed with the offer of admission of any special conditions for continuation of study or graduation that shall apply.

Course Attempts Maximum Number of Course Failures Permitted
2-10 2
11-17 3
18-25 4
26 or more 5

Course Attempts Minimum Required Number of Courses with a Grade of 60% or Higher
6 1
7 2
8 3
9 4
10-11 5
12-13 6
14 7
15 8
16-17 9
18 10
19 11
20 12
21-22 13
23 or more 14

Failed Course

A student who is eligible for continuation of study but has failed to gain pass standing in 1 or more of the courses attempted, shall be informed by the program committee for the Associate Diploma in Agriculture of the steps necessary to make up the deficiency. The program committee shall also decide upon the number of opportunities a student may be given to obtain pass standing in a failed course. At the discretion of the program committee, 1 of the following will be granted to the student:

Repeated Course or Permissable Substitute
A repeated course or a permissible substitute course is normally taken as part of the regular course load for the program. If the repeated course is to be taken as an additional course, the approval of the director must be obtained. A repeated course is considered as an additional course attempt.
Supplemental Condition
If a grade of 40-49% has been assigned in a course, and if the course is of such a nature that there is no permissible substitute, credit standing for the failed course will be awarded to the student who satisfies a supplemental condition, the details of which will be determined by the department concerned. The department will inform the student of the time, location, and nature of the supplemental condition. If a supplemental examination is designated, it will be written prior to the 15th day of classes of the following semester in which the student is normally registered. The Registrar will notify the student of the time, location, and date of the supplemental examination.

Conditions for Graduation

One condition for graduation is that a pass standing must have been obtained in the courses of the schedule of studies for the division in which the student is enrolled. A further consideration for graduation is that the student must have completed a minimum of 14 courses at grade of 60% or better in the four semesters of the Associate Diploma program.

Application for Graduation

An "Application for Graduation" will be forwarded during the fourth week of the semester to each student registered in semester 4. If the student plans to graduate at the end of that semester, the application is to be returned by the date noted on the form. The diploma graduation fee will be assessed when the student registers in the fourth semester.

Requests for Academic Consideration

Any student who wishes to request academic consideration should consult the descriptions for "Academic Consideration" and "Petitions" in Section VIII-- Undergraduate Degree Regulations.

Attendance Requirement

Instructors will inform students of the attendance requirement for individual courses. Any student who fails to meet the attendance requirement may be required to withdraw from the course by the program committee for the Associate Diploma in Agriculture. Such action on the part of the committee will constitute a failure in the course.

Unsatisfactory Progress

Any student whose progress is unsatisfactory to the program committee will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Classification of Associate Diploma Students

Full-time student: a student taking the normal course requirement for the program. Part-time student: a student taking up to 50% of the normal semester course load in the program.

Schedule of Studies

Semester 1 is common to all students. Before the end of semester 1 each student will elect to enter in semesters 2, 3 and 4, 1 of the following 3 divisions of the program: Agribusiness , Farm Operators and Managers, and Horticulture. Selection of a division will be made in consultation with the director of the Associate Diploma program or the director's designate. Selection of electives to complete the division program will be made in consultation with the director of the Associate Diploma program or 1 of the advisors for that division. In addition to the semester 1 courses listed below, the director meets with first semester students one hour a week to discuss new developments in the program, problem areas, and current agricultural topics. Students should refer to a previous section regarding course credit for subjects taken previously.

1996-97 Undergraduate Calendar
XIII--Associate Diploma
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
The Two-Year Program

Last revised: August 28, 1996. Contact: ccrenna@registrar.uoguelph.ca.

Percentage Range	Letter Grade Equivalent
90-100	A+
85-89	A
80-84	A-
77-79	B+
73-76	B
70-72	B-
67-69	C+
63-66	C
60-62	C-
57-59	D+
53-56	D
50-52	D-
0-49	F

Course Attempts	Maximum Number of Course Failures Permitted
2-10	2
11-17	3
18-25	4
26 or more	5

Course Attempts	Minimum Required Number of Courses with a Grade of 60% or Higher
6	1
7	2
8	3
9	4
10-11	5
12-13	6
14	7
15	8
16-17	9
18	10
19	11
20	12
21-22	13
23 or more	14