School of Horticulture

Overview

The following information is for those looking for an accredited School of Horticulture in Ontario.

To get a recognized diploma in horticulture, you must choose your school wisely.

Education is important and a big investment of your time and money. Make sure that you get the best return on this investment by making informed decisions and carefully evaluate the school that you plan to attend.

Ontario offers a wide range of postsecondary options. There are nineteen universities, twenty-four Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, Horticultural/Agricultural colleges, colleges of health sciences, and registered private career colleges.

It is up to you to investigate the school that you want to attend and make sure that it is recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Enrolling in an accredited Horticultural College is your very best defence against falling prey to a “Diploma Mill”.


What is a Diploma Mill?

A Diploma Mill, as it pertains, is a school of horticulture that grants diplomas even though it is not recognized by the Provincial Government of Ontario.

A dictionary definition is “an unaccredited school that grants worthless diplomas.” Or “a school operating without government supervision and granting diplomas which are either fraudulent or, because of the lack of proper standards, useless.”

Such “schools” often claim to be superior, even though they are not accredited; but that is impossible. Accreditation is the highest mark of educational quality. There is something wrong with a school that is unable to gain accreditation.


Accreditation

Accreditation is when a governing agency evaluates the program of a school and then determines the standards for each course in order to clearly identify the essential skills and knowledge that graduates of that program must acquire. Each and every school is required to ensure that its programs and the way the programs are taught, meet these standards, and if they do not, they are simply not accredited.


How to recognize a bogus diploma mill

Their name might be similar to that of a well-known college. For example: in the Niagara Region, there might be a number of schools for horticulture but there is only one truly accredited School of Horticulture & Agribusiness.

A diploma mill may describe themselves as: “acclaimed” or “world-renown” in order to fool you into assuming that they are accredited.

They may even have a superficially convincing prospectus or website modeled from those of legitimate colleges but then fail to provide essential information, such as a list of faculty and their qualifications.

Because of their lack of accreditation, the courses provided at the “school” are not transferable to other schools; whereas all accredited College programs are transferable. This is very important because there are often times when a student decides to transfer to another college or even change programs altogether.

The school may pretend to have overstated entrance requirements and give the impression of a stringent interview or selection process but can then be “flexible” to your situation.

There is more emphasis placed on the practical work component than on academics. At one such school, the practical work program constitutes as much as 70% of the time spent there; which means that most of the time is spent working instead of learning.

The tuition fees of a diploma mill might be lower than the fees of a legitimate College. But if it appears too good to be true, then it is; no one will give you something for nothing. You will have to repay these savings in one way or another; most likely by providing cheap labour for the “school”.

They may offer incentives such as free room and board, or numerous scholarships and awards. But again, they will not give you these for free. These costs to them will be offset by your labour.

Lastly, the “school” may provide access to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) but just because a school participates in OSAP does not mean that the Province of Ontario or the Government of Canada recognize it as legitimate.


How to avoid enrolling in a diploma mill

The basic answer is that you have to be cautious. In general, your best defence is to enrol in an accredited Horticultural College that is recognized by the Provincial Government of Ontario. Beware of any diploma mill that doesn't have proper accreditation; it is often too late when students realize they have wasted their time, money and efforts.

All too often students get sidetracked by what appears to be an inexpensive and easy means to a diploma. Young students are often too eager and make rash decisions. They also feel invincible and full of unlimited potential. Diploma Mills view their naivety and eagerness as an exploitable resource, and in their eyes, the students exist only to provide cheap labour for them.

Don’t get fooled by what appears to be an economical and easy means to a diploma. Cost is no longer a factor for students who wish to attend college. Starting in 2005-2006, access grants will be provided towards the tuition of students from low-income families. These grants can cover as much as $6,000 or 100 per cent of your tuition.

Pay attention to the schools sales pitches and what they expect from you and then trust your instincts. If you get the feeling that you’re being conned, then you probably are.


A note to the Parents

Selecting an appropriate postsecondary educational institution is an important and pivotal time in a young student’s career. The years they spend after high school (and who they spend them with) will greatly affect their outlook. Taking the time to show some interest in their choices will prevent them from making a costly mistake and avoid the pitfalls of enrolling in a "diploma mill".


Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology

Ontario's colleges of applied arts and technology provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills that can lead to rewarding careers in horticulture and in other fields.

Colleges offer a variety of full and part-time career-oriented programs for secondary school graduates and for mature students. Most college programs are either diploma programs (which may be either two or three years in length) or certificate programs (which run one year or less). Some courses of study lead to official certification in skilled trades that are regulated by professional associations.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities approves all programs offered by accredited colleges and is responsible for their overall governance.


College Program Standards

Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology throughout Ontario deliver a wide range of postsecondary programs designed to provide graduates with the skills they need to become successfully employed in various careers. These programs must be of high quality and relevant to the needs of both employers and students. All college graduates must have the key skills that will help them find employment in their field of study. They also need the broader skills and knowledge that will give them flexibility and allow them to continue to learn and adapt throughout their working lives.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities oversees the development of standards for each program, in order to clearly identify the essential skills and knowledge that graduates of that program must acquire. Each college is required to ensure that its programs and program delivery are consistent with these standards, and must assist students to achieve these essential outcomes.

Employers, industry and professional associations, and program graduates currently working in the field are all involved in the development process, as are representatives of the colleges themselves. This way, students can be assured that the programs are relevant to the needs of employers and that the skills they acquire during their program will be appropriate.


Published College Program Standards

Program standards apply to all similar programs offered by accredited colleges across the province. Each program standard must be approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities before it can be delivered at an accredited Ontario college.

Programs and courses accredited by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities are transferable from college to college.


Horticulture Technician Program Standard

The official program standard for Horticulture Technician Programs approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
for delivery by Ontario Colleges
of Applied Arts and Technology



This publication can be read in its entirety at this website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/college/progstan/horticul/horti.html


School Search

To find out if the school that you’re interested in is accredited, simply search for the name of a school on this site: http://www.cicic.ca/postsec/institutions/indexe.stm

Alternatively, here is a list of all accredited postsecondary institutions in Canada that have been given the authority to grant diplomas.

Program Search - use this search to find an accredited Ontario college program by keyword. For example type in the keyword “horticulture” to find a list of colleges that offer a horticulture program.


Access Grants

Access grants will be provided towards the tuition costs of first-time, first-year and second-year dependent students from low-income families.

If you are a first-year, first-time student who qualifies, you may be able to receive a grant from the Government of Canada, as well as a grant offered by the Government of Ontario.

Together, these can cover as much as $6,000 or 100 per cent of your tuition. If you are a second-year student, you may be able to receive an Ontario access grant that can cover as much as $3,000 or 50 per cent of your tuition.

Eligibility for access grants will be determined using the information that you and your parents submit through the regular OSAP Application for Full-Time Students.


Credit Transfer

Credit transfer involves an equivalency comparison of individual courses taken by a student at one accredited Ontario College to courses offered at another. This is very important because there are often times when a student decides to transfer to another college or even change programs altogether. An excellent example of a College Transfer Guide can be seen here: Niagara College Transfer Guide

Furthermore, students from an accredited Ontario College have the option to transfer credits to any University via The Ontario College-University Transfer Guide, which is published online by the College University Consortium Council (CUCC) that was established by Ontario's Minister of Education and Training to facilitate, promote and co-ordinate joint education and training ventures and will aid the transfer of students between colleges and universities in Ontario.

In fact, credits from around the world are transferable to accredited Ontario Colleges via World Education Services (WES), a government funded credential evaluation service that converts educational credentials from any country in the world into their Canadian equivalents. It describes each certificate, diploma or degree that you have earned and states its academic equivalency in Canada. WES's Canadian office is in Toronto, and its headquarters in New York City; additional WES offices are located in Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.


This Author’s View

The School of Horticulture & Agribusiness is the best option available for a student interested in horticulture. Their training strategy allows students to earn money while they learn and combines supervised, structured, on-the-job training with theoretical related instruction. This is the best way of training those who are preparing to enter this industry.


Conlusion

It is up to you to investigate the school that you want to attend and make sure that it is accredited by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.


Useful Links

ACAATO Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario

ACCC Association of Canadian Community Colleges

AUCC Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

Canadian College and University Newspapers

OCUTG
OCUTG is developed and maintained by the College-University Consortium Council, a partnership of MTCU, ACAATO and COU which is wholly funded by MTCU. The Guide provides (in English and French) information to postsecondary students who are looking for information on the transferability of credits between colleges and universities in Ontario.

Ontario College Application Services
Information on 25 Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology, 3 colleges of agricultural technology, and the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology: Addresses and Websites

Ontario University Addresses and Websites

Ontario Universities' Application Centre

Ontario Colleges

Ontario Transfer Guide

Access Grants

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