My online storage system has recently allowed for the sharing of files publicly, so I’m testing it out with an electronic copy of the CD that was handed out at the KWCHEA conference earlier this year. You can now download one big zip file at the following link:
Download of KWCHEA CD package

The file will have to be unzipped or decompressed using any standard program. Then you should see 6 folders which all contain a bunch of pdf files:

- Articles Written by Sarah
- Ontario Ministry of Education High School Resources
- Ontario University Admission Policies 2010 (all were updated as of spring 2010 for admission in fall 2010)
- Open Universities (information about Canada’s open universities available to Ontario Students)
- OUAC e-info information on all universities and programs (Ontario institutions)
- Standardized Tests for University Admission (including SAT, AP, CLEP and ACT)

Let me reiterate: this is not leisure reading. It’s boring. It’s not particularly pretty. But, if you are applying to university in Ontario as a homeschooler without a traditional high school diploma, I can’t think of any information you need (before you get to the point of speaking with individual universities) that’s not included here.

I also want to be perfectly clear: everything except the articles written by me is freely available online. I’m not claiming to have authored this material; I only compiled it because frankly, some of it is pretty darn difficult to find on your own. You’d be amazed at some of the navigation paths, file names and various educational jargon that industry professionals think makes sense. There’s some information here that even I had to pull my hair out to find online, so my goal was simply to put it all in one place for those who have neither the time nor the inclination to track down the information for themselves.

As this information is available freely online, there is no copyright infringement by providing it to you. Some of what’s included are simply screen shots from websites, and in that case, it’s enough to provide you the basics of what you need to know, but also provides you with the website address and how to get there yourself to get more information if you need more than the basics. And, since this information is freely available online, I have not sold nor are you allowed to sell the contents of this file. I was not financially compensated from KWCHEA in any way for this project. (They offered to reimburse me for my time, but I insisted that any money they had should go towards creating as many CDs as possible for free distribution.)

By downloading this file, you acknowledge that this file may not be sold and agree not to sell this file. It simply hasn’t been created in such a way to make that legal, as it was never my intent to receive compensation for this work. But, I hope you’ll share it freely.

I believe the contents are extremely accurate, but of course, mistakes happen. Please do let me know either by email or in a comment below if you find an error. Also feel free to let me know how you’re using the information, or if there’s anything I haven’t included that you think would be helpful, and I can consider that for version 2.0.

Depending on your browser, the link above may initiate a download automatically, so be prepared for that. The file is safe to download, but if you experience any problems please do let me know and I’ll take immediate action.

But, homeschoolers pose an interesting problem to post-secondary program admissions because they often want to attend these formal, accredited programs after an informal or unrecognized course of study in the high school years. Certainly, most people use a high school diploma to gain entrance to these programs. But just because most people do it, does that mean it’s required?

So, before I answer the common question, “How do I get a high school diploma as a homeschooler?” I thought it would be a good idea to make it clear that, depending on your situation, you might not need a diploma at all.

ARE YOU ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION?
People often write me asking how best to go about earning a high school diploma in their particular situation. But, for most people, the high school diploma isn’t really what they want.

What they really want is to open the doors that a high school diploma typically opens. Do you want a high school diploma for its own sake, or do you want to get into university? Do you want to qualify for a particular college program or internship?

Furthermore, if you could achieve that larger goal without a high school diploma, would you still want to focus on the high school diploma?

ONLY YOUR MOST ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS MATTER
If you plan to earn a university degree, no one will care about your high school credentials. If you plan to earn a professional degree (law, medicine, teaching) or a graduate (Master’s, PhD) degree, few will even care about your undergraduate (first) university degree.

If you are not planning on attending college or university, then you will likely want a high school diploma (or GED, an equivalent exam-based credential). Most jobs require at least a high school diploma or GED, and without credentials of higher education, the high school diploma becomes more important.

But, if your goal is a university degree, then the question you should be asking yourself is, “What do I need in order to be accepted into university?” Fortunately, we already know that most Ontario universities will admit you without a high school diploma as long as you have fulfilled their other admission requirements. (And, an “open university” such as Athabasca University will admit you without any prerequisites.)

But what about advanced degrees and professional programs? The same reasoning applies: if your goal is law school, start your educational planning by asking yourself, “What do I need in order to be accepted into law school?”

WORK BACKWARDS TO FIND THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
The typical educational path to law school looks something like this:

high school diploma -> university degree -> law school

But, did you know that a university degree is not a pre-requisite for law school? And, since a high school diploma is not required for university entrance, neither credential is actually required for admission to law school. (There are educational requirements that you must satisfy, but neither a diploma nor a degree is one of them.)

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider a high school diploma or a university degree if you want to go to law school (or medical school, which has a similar entrance process). But it means that you have options, and you may wish to explore them to find the path of minimum formal schooling that will allow you to focus on your education instead.

JUST TO GO TO UNIVERSITY? THE SHORT ANSWER IS, “NO!”
We do know that there are several ways to get into university without a high school diploma, but some college or technical programs may not support these methods. In short, though, if your educational path relies on a university education, then you can feel confident that you can avoid a high school diploma if you so desire.

RULE OF THUMB BASED ON THE LEVEL OF STUDY YOU EVENTUALLY WISH TO ACHIEVE
High School Education, but nothing further:
While you may never need formal proof of your high school level studies, there is a good chance that at some point you will want to present formal educational credentials to an employer, an investor (if you start your own business) or to an organization (if you must meet certain criteria* to join or volunteer). Of course, you can still be admitted to university if you find you do need credentials down the road, but it will typically take years to earn a university degree. If you need a piece of paper, and need it quickly, you’ll probably choose to write the GED exams instead. Even then, there is studying involved and waiting until a test is offered, so be aware that while your opportunities may not be limited, the speed with which you can act on them might be.

Undergraduate Degree (your first university degree):
No you do not need a high school diploma because alternative admissions are possible.

Professional degree (law, medicine, teaching, veterinary):
You need some level of university study, but since you don’t need a high school diploma to get into university, therefore no you don’t need a high school diploma for professional programs, generally speaking.

Graduate Degree (an advanced academic degree such as an MA, MSc, PhD):
You need an undergraduate university degree, but since you don’t need a high school diploma to get into university, therefore no you don’t need a high school diploma for graduate degrees, generally speaking.

College/Technical/Apprentice Programs:
In Ontario, these programs often do require a high school diploma unless you wait until age 19 or 21 (depending on the school) to apply as a mature student. Read admissions information carefully and look for “high school diploma or equivalent” to see whether there may be a loophole or some flexibility.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN BUCK THE SYSTEM DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD
As you can see, it is possible to follow an advanced academic career without a high school diploma through alternative entrance to an undergraduate program.  But, it is important to make sure that the alternative path you choose is actually preferable to simply earning the high school diploma.

Some people will prefer being assigned a curriculum, having lessons planned and work graded externally to the more independent options such as studying for standardized tests. Some students will benefit from the social experience of attending a high school (even if only in an “it’s like watching a sociological experiment” kind of way!) and others may find that the high school really is the resource hub of the community with the best music, athletic or science equipment, and therefore opportunities, in town.

Responsible academic planning is as much knowing when to take advantage of a well-worn path as it is knowing when you can safely cut corners.  As always, think about which path offers the best combination of challenge and support for your child; a solid high school education requires both.

====================
* a local husband-and-wife bowling tournament in our old neighbourhood required you to submit a marriage license with your application to prevent contestants from pairing up with ringers. So, you just never know when you might need an official piece of paper!

The problem with AP exams for homeschoolers in Ontario has always been that these exams must be written in accredited high schools who have registered to offer AP examinations.  The chances of your local Ontario high school offering AP exams isn’t all that great, since the Advanced Placement program isn’t nearly as popular here as it is in the U.S.

And, even if a school near you does hold AP examinations, there’s no guarantee that they will allow outside students to write exams at their school.  They are not required to open their testing doors to everyone, and some schools have very reasonable restrictions on external students on exam day.

For example, one of the leading AP schools in the province is an all girls school, and they do not allow outside students to write AP exams with their own students.  How fair would it be to have their female students suddenly surrounded with boys on high stakes exam days?  How fair would it be to say that only female homeschoolers can join the girls for these exams?  You can obviously appreciate that there can be reasonable justifications for what may at first seem like unreasonable, exclusionary policies.

I think for a couple of years now I’ve been casually mentioning on various message boards that there’s “some school just west of Toronto” who has been open and welcoming to having homeschoolers participate in their AP exams.  Allow me to now formally share the details:

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your awareness of Bronte AP program, we are offering a wide
range of AP exams (about 27 different exams out of 39 exams offered by
College Board) we are proud of being the first school offering AP exams for
external students in GTA. Each AP exam will cost $150 and we are also
offering AP exam preparation sessions for three months prior to exams
schedule (Once a week) a copy of our AP exams tutorials for 2008 is
attached. If you have any more inquiries don’t hesitate to contact me

Regards,

Dr. N. Gouda
Head of Student Governance
BRONTE COLLEGE OF CANADA
88 Bronte College court Mississauga Ontario L5B 1M9
Tel. 905 270-7788 ext.2042        Fax. 905 270-7828
ngouda@brontecollege.ca
http://www.brontecollege.ca

Dr. Gouda has been personally recommended to me both by the head of the Ontario Council of AP Schools in Ontario and by a homeschooling mom whose daughter took a few AP exams at Bronte College and was very impressed with the whole examination environment and proctoring at Bronte.

Unlike the SAT and ACT tests, AP examinations are held only once per year.  Also unlike the SAT/ACT, AP examinations cover first year university level, subject-specific material.  In other words, you don’t have the luxury of writing it over a few times a year until you get the score you like (although, you may write again the following year – there is no restriction on rewriting) and the material is much more challenging.  Both of these elements combined can make for a pretty stressful exam day!  Knowing that you’re in good, competent hands and that every effort will be made to provide optimal test-taking conditions is worth its weight in gold. . . or at the very least, $150!

Like the SAT/ACT, however, the exam can be written “cold.”  You are not required to take any AP “classes” before writing the exam.  The review classes offered by Bronte College are available to but not required of homeschoolers.  Just as with any standardized test, familiarity with the test format and types of questions generally asked is just as important than the content covered by the test itself.  So, I don’t actually recommend writing the test with no prep, but preparation can be as simple as a $20 AP exam prep book from Chapters or Amazon (or free from the library).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Gouda for being a model of accessibility.  For many students, AP exams are a fantastic alternative to Ontario high school credit courses.  It’s great that Bronte College is promoting this option to a group of students who can really benefit from it.

If Mississauga is a bit too far for you to travel for an exam, you can visit www.ap.ca to find a list of AP schools in Canada.

If you need reminding why the AP program is a path to university that you definitely want to check out , visit the message board to see university-by-university AP policies and how many university credits can be earned for success on an AP exam.

You can view and/or join the discussion here:

 http://messageboard.rainsberger.ca/topic/162696/

Diploma:
1. an official or state document
2. a writing usually under seal conferring some honor or privilege
3. a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by an educational institution

It’s not exactly clear-cut, but the implication behind the word diploma is that it has been awarded to the recipient by someone with the explicit power to do so.

WHY I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE PHRASE “HOMESCHOOL DIPLOMA”

Here’s why I don’t like the phrase “homeschool diploma” (and I know many people find my site by searching that phrase, so I’m not just making this up!):

The family unit does have the power to confer some honor or privilege upon a child who has, in the family’s mind, successfully completed high school.

But, the family unit does not have the power to confer upon said child an award that others outside the family are forced to acknowledge.

It is misleading, I believe, to represent yourself as having earned a “high school diploma” because that phrase carries with it the understanding that a government-approved organization assessed and granted diploma status. In other words, if it came off your own printer, how “official” can it really be?

HOW DO HOMESCHOOLERS GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA?

When I speak on the topic of university admissions, I’m often asked how homeschoolers “get a high school diploma.” The reality is, many homeschoolers do not get a high school diploma. And in fact, by definition (according to the universities), if you have a high school diploma, you are not a homeschooler!

If you go through the homeschool admission policies of the Ontario universities, you’ll notice that while you may be asked to provide a transcript, or portfolio, you will not be asked to submit a “diploma.” That’s because universities do not recognize diplomas unless they come from a government-accredited source.

And most importantly, a homeschooled applicant is one who by definition does not possess a government diploma. So, the university is not expecting you to present any diploma whatsoever. This is why you’re considered a homeschooler, and this is why you’re presenting a portfolio, or standardized test results or some other requirement that is not required of traditionally-schooled applicants.

BUT MY CHILD IS ENROLLED IN AN OUTSIDE PROGRAM LEADING TO A DIPLOMA. AM I STILL CONSIDERED A HOMESCHOOLER?

Now, I have had this discussion with others re: “diplomas” that come at the end of comprehensive curriculum programs, mostly those available out of the U.S. and completed through distance studies.

One mother was adamant that her child’s university “accepted” this diploma. The reality is, and it’s a fine distinction so bear with me, the university accepted the child, who happened to have this diploma when he applied.

While the university took this diploma into consideration, and subsequently decided to admit the student, this does not mean that this program’s diploma is “recognized” or “accepted.” The university is not allowed to recognize a non-government-accredited diploma as fulfilling the “does this kid have a high school diploma?” requirement. Note that a government approved diploma can be from *any* government, not just a Canadian province. But, it does have to be awarded by ultimately an organization that is under the jurisdiction of a country’s own education system, not a private curriculum company.

That being said, there are some correspondence diplomas from the U.S. that are government accredited. In fact, the very first time I spoke at the KW conference, we discovered that two members of the audience were following a program that led to an official state diploma from the U.S. This meant that, in the eyes of the universities, these students were not homeschoolers because they had a government diploma to present. So, the specific program you’re following makes a huge difference. (More about these U.S. programs later.)

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT DIPLOMAS, AND WHY YOU’RE OFTEN ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS AND THEREFORE GETTING THE WRONG ANSWERS

Here are some of the misconceptions I’ve encountered over the years:

FACT: A diploma is ultimately just a piece of paper signifying an academic honor or achievement. The diploma is not the high school education itself. If you homeschool, you may not receive a diploma for your work. To put it bluntly, get over it! What I mean is, separate the diploma from the education in your mind, and focus not on achieving the diploma at all costs, but rather achieving your life goals (e.g. university admission), then decide whether the diploma is absolutely necessary. Recognize that not every life goal requires a high school diploma, and in fact, some goals are more easily attained without said diploma. When you’re on my website, remember that my primary concern isn’t earning you a diploma — it’s getting you into university, and all advice is given within that context.

FACT: A diploma carries with it the underlying assumption that whoever issued the diploma has been approved by the government to hold the power to certify and acknowledge academic achievement, and this is what allows diplomas to carry universal recognition. This is why not everyone can have a diploma for doing just anything, no matter how worthy it is. Again, get over it! You are not entitled to a government’s seal of approval if you did not do what they specifically require for a high school diploma. The good news is, people like me have been working for years so that this lack of a diploma isn’t an obstacle when applying to university.

FICTION: You need a high school diploma before entering post-secondary studies, so even if you’re 23 with a lot of life experience, you should be figuring out how to go back and get those high school credits that you’re missing so that you can apply to university.
FACT: Apply as a mature student, or to an open university. Don’t waste your time with high school credits unless you really feel you are lacking the academic knowledge/confidence and specifically want to study at the high school level.

FACT: When universities use the phrase “high school diploma” they mean only diplomas issued by government accredited organizations. It’s important to realize that, in Ontario as in many other government jurisdictions, there is only one recognized high school diploma – the government one. All accredited schools (public, private, independent, correspondence) issue this same diploma, not an “equivalent” diploma, but the exact, same one. That’s what being accredited means — given the authority to issue the government diploma.

FACT: People will prey on your innocence/ignorance surrounding diplomas. A few years ago, I overheard one vendor at a large homeschooling conference in Ontario describing his program’s “diploma” to a parent. Words and phrases like “equivalent” and “our kids get into university just like everyone else” are misleading when the audience doesn’t realize two key points. First, there is no such official thing as an “equivalent” diploma. That’s not an official term and no one regulates what is “equivalent” to ensure that it really is like the original. In other words, having an equivalent diploma still means that you don’t have the traditional, government high school diploma. Second, while students with these equivalent diplomas may “similarly get into university” they certainly do not “get into university in a similar way” to kids with the government diploma. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with using an unaccredited program for your high school years, there *is* something very wrong with using verbal sleight of hand to make people think that your diploma “counts” as what we have come to know as a “high school diploma.” And, this is a huge difference. It’s the difference between applying as a homeschooler and applying with the traditional high school diploma (which, if you had, would make you not a homeschooler in the eyes of the universities).

FICTION: All Ontario high schools offer the government diploma, in other words, the one that is recognized.
FACT: In Ontario, all schools that have chosen to “register” with the government will be listed in database which can be searched here. But, not every school listed is permitted to issue high school diplomas. In other words, not every “registered” school (here’s my application fee) is an “accredited” school (permitted to grant the government high school diploma). Look for the indication “Offers credits towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma” in their listing.

FICTION: Any correspondence diploma from the U.S. is one way to “get around” not having an Ontario high school diploma.
FACT: In the US, there is an extra layer involved in government accreditation. There are about half a dozen “accrediting organizations” that have government approval to accredit individual schools and school boards. So, when using a curriculum from the United States, it’s important to first find out which organization issues the school’s accreditation, and then determine whether this organization is one of the government ones. There are accrediting bodies in the United States who have not received government approval to accredit schools for the government diploma, meaning that the individual school or program can claim “certification” for its diploma, but just not government certification, which is what Ontario universities will demand. Be careful, there are some well-known names out there whose diplomas are not recognized by universities. This doesn’t mean that the universities won’t consider the academic achievement involved in obtaining them, but these diplomas are not stand ins for a government diploma.

FICTION: You need a high school diploma to put on your resume after graduating from college, university or other post-secondary education/training.
FACT: If you are continuing on to post-secondary education/training, that is the education that should be represented on your resume. Not having a high school diploma when you already have a university degree or college diploma should not ordinarily present any problems to you in the job market.

But, I do still very much enjoy online communities, and I had this crazy idea: since I’m usually in email contact with a lot of universities about their policies, what if I could bring the admissions people into the discussion?

So, I did a very brave (stupid?) thing. I emailed them all. I told them about the community I was forming. I gave them carte blanche to go ahead and advertise the heck out of their schools and programs. What do I care? They should *want* to advertise to you, to attract this segment of the population. In exchange for providing first-hand answers from the schools themselves, I thought the trade-off was a no brainer.

Now of course, I had to email them with the idea — because none of you were there yet. So, admittedly, I led them to the board, but there was not much for them to do. I told them that I was going to give them first crack at the board, and they could post a welcome message from their school, links to their site . . . whatever they wanted. And, that over the coming weeks, I would then mention the site here and at the upcoming Ontario conferences.

A couple of schools wrote me back and said they thought it was a great idea. Some have indicated that welcome posts will be forthcoming. One school (and if you want to know who, you’ll just have to visit and find out for yourself!) has posted a welcome message already. I can tell by the activity log that probably about 8 universities have visited the message board, but not posted.

I’m going to assume that some universities need to see people there first before they’ll know how to get involved, so I now unleash you upon them. Visit the site and ask your questions, and see who comes! There are specific folders for each school so that information can be easily tracked. If a school is slow to respond, then I’ll gently inform them that they have questions waiting.

And, perhaps it would be a nice gesture to acknowledge the school who was first to post, even before any of you guys showed up, by posting in that area, too.

These message board things are a tricky business. I know there’s nothing sadder than a low-activity board, but not only did I want a place where people could compile their information and experiences by school, I wanted to get the schools in on it, too. I think we can do that, if you make it worth their while by posting.

Not sure what to post? Feel free to introduce yourself in the general area. But also, remember that the schools probably aren’t going to know what to post either. Why not ask them something that’s not on their website — how many homeschoolers did you admit last year? How far in advance should a homeschooler contact your university? What’s usually the most difficult part about dealing with a homeschooler’s application? What can we do to make the application process smoother?

Statistics tell us that over 90% of people only visit boards and never post. But, I’m asking you to bite the bullet and share *something.* It can be a new question or in response to something already written. (I’m putting shorter “fact sheets” up there that aren’t meant to be comprehensive, but basic starter guides for different topics.) It can be something you’ve learned, or an experience you’ve had in the university prep/admission process. If you’ve looked into university admissions at all, you have something valuable to share with others just starting out.

So there you have it. This board might suffer the same miserable fate as most out there, but I hope that, when you go looking for info about Ontario universities, you’ll go there. Either ask your question directly to one of the university reps or post what you have found in other sources. Join us here:

http://messageboard.rainsberger.ca/index/

What can I say? That would make me happy.

I am very, very pleased to announce that (including private correspondence with me) we are now at 100% participation in the homeschool university admissions game!

Although Ryerson’s policy is not currently on their website (and I’ve learned through my discussions with Admissions departments that there can be a variety of legitimate reasons why such information doesn’t get posted there), admissions representative Charmaine Hack assures me that “Ryerson has been and continues to be, pleased to consider home schooled applicants. ” She forwarded me the admissions document in use by Ryerson, and is very eager to receive questions and feedback concerning their policies.

Ryerson University ~ http://www.ryerson.ca/

350 Victoria Street | Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3 | (416) 979-5000

Admissions Website: http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission/index.html

Home School Admissions Page: not available

Below is Ryerson’s most current policy, but of course, this is an internal document and may be updated without our knowledge. Please contact Ryerson for the final word on their admissions policies, but it will probably continue to look a little something like this:

RYERSON UNIVERSITY
HOME SCHOOLED APPLICANTS

Admission Requirements
Ryerson encourages and is pleased to consider applications for admission from home schooled candidates.

Home schooled applicants do not require completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, but are required to provide official evidence of academic achievement in secondary education, as follows:

From Ontario, completion six Grade 12 U/M courses, including program-specific subject prerequisites is required. The minimum average required by Ryerson University is 70%.
Alternately, applicants may present equivalent credentials from other Canadian provinces or final results in Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced Level courses in the General Certificate Education (GCE) examinations.
Results of standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with a minimum score of 550 (Verbal) and 550 (Math) or a composite ACT score of 24, are strongly recommended. (All test result minimum scores are currently under review).
Applicants should note that higher averages and subject prerequisite grades may be required as a result of competition, and will vary by program.

Many Ryerson programs consider non-academic factors such as interview, auditions, selection tests, essays, portfolios, etc. in the selection process, in addition to academic criteria and history.

Application Process

Home schooled candidates may apply on the appropriate application available via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) (www.ouac.on.ca). Home schooled candidates must identify themselves as such to the Director of Admissions to expedite and ensure the appropriate processing and assessment of their application.

Director of Admissions,
Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
350 Victoria Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3

__________________________

Draft Only, current as of December 2007

Thank you, Ryerson, for giving me a warm, fuzzy sense of completeness!

Today is a day for families to discuss fun things like government, legislation and public representation.

As some of you know, neither Joe nor I have a driver’s license. This is partly a political statement, but just as much a part of our attempt to be financially responsible. A few cabs a year hardly adds up to the expense of owning a car full-time.

With the developing technologies on this front, we have both resolved not to get our licenses until we can purchase a 100% electric vehicle. This doesn’t mean that we will automatically get our licenses once this day arrives, nor are we necessarily chomping at the bit to do so. Given that we’ve gone this long with out a car, our driving needs are obviously few and far between and it may never be necessary or even “worth it” in our minds to get a car. But, if we do, it will be an electric one.

That’s why we watch the news on this front with great interest. Many of you may have seen the company that manufactures the Zenn car featured on the Rick Mercer show, or in other mainstream news. The short story is this: there’s a Canadian (Quebec) manufactured car that is only sold in the U.S. because our federal transport laws weren’t up with the times.

I say “were” because the publicity that the Zenn car received last fall prompted transport Canada to give the low-speed electric vehicle the stamp of approval. Now, that still didn’t mean you could actually purchase or drive it here, because some of our road laws are provincial. But, it was a step.

So, what’s all the fuss now? I just received an email notification today that Transport Canada is attempting to redefine “Low Speed Vehicles” so that now NONE of them will be allowed on the roads! They are trying to change the definition of a low speed vehicle from one that is allowed to operate on roads with posted speed limits of 50 km/h or less (meaning most of your city streets) to one that is only allowed to operate on essentially “private” roads: university campuses, parks military bases etc.

Since most of the electric cars now in production (or prototype) are meant to be small, casual driving vehicles to accomplish tasks such as grocery shopping and zipping around town, many of them are classified as low speed vehicles.

You don’t have to be an environmental activist to appreciate that low speed vehicles like the Zenn car (which actually exceeds mandated safety requirements, so that’s not the issue) on our city streets makes a lot of sense for everyone.

These cars take up less room on the streets and in parking lots, use no gas (conserving it for others who do need it) and are a symbol of our willingness to explore and accept alternatives as well as individuals’ right to choose how much (or how little) of a “car” they really need.

We know firsthand the huge effects that something as trivial as a definition can have on a situation. Remember when Ontario universities used to be funding based on the number of students who had acquired a high school diploma? Think about what happened when that funding definition was amended to include “or equivalent.”

Below is the email I received, and of course, I’d love it if others got involved in the cause and made their feelings known via the methods described at the end. It’s one I feel is worthy, and affects me personally. But, that’s not the only reason to participate.

I support several causes that don’t affect me personally because I feel it’s my responsibility to advocate for personal choice and freedoms.

I don’t have children, but I feel very strongly about homeschoolers’ right to choose their own education. If I do have children in the future, I would want the freedom to homeschool them to be available to me.

I don’t drive, but if I ever choose to do so, I would like the option of an electric car so that it can in theory be powered by any form of energy I choose.

That’s it. I have no ulterior motive, no veiled attempt to force everyone else to give up their cars. I simply hope that perhaps this issue can be a springboard for your family to discuss issues of legislation and governance. And if you feel so moved, participate in your government to increase the options available to us all.

Here’s the email I received:

Transport Canada is trying to ban the ZENN and other Low Speed Vehicles from public roads!

On December 22, 2007, only 50 days after granting the ZENN the National Safety Mark (clearing the way for ZENN to sell in the provinces that enact low-speed vehicle legislation) Transport Canada announced plans to REVISE THE DEFINITION OF LOW-SPEED VEHICLES.

The (paraphrased) existing Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) definition is as follows:

“Low Speed Vehicles are designed for on road use, have a regulated top speed of 40 KPH and are restricted to roads with a posted speed limit of 50KPH.”

This type of vehicle is legal in more than 40 of the 50 States and throughout Europe, Asia and South America in mixed-use environments and has an exemplary safety record when operated in its defined operating environments!

The proposed revision to definition of Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs) is as follows:

“low-speed vehicle” means a vehicle, other than a restricted-use motorcycle or a vehicle imported temporarily for special purposes, that is designed for use primarily on streets and roads where access and the use of other classes of vehicles are controlled by law or agreement”

There are other recommendations, including the addition of small trucks to the definition and improvements for increased visibility of LSVs that ZENN Motor Company agrees are reasonable and we support.

Reference: Canada Gazette Vol. 141, No. 51 — December 22, 2007, Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Low-speed Vehicles)

What does this mean?
Essentially, the ZENN would be UNABLE to operate on 50 KPH and slower public roads such as downtown Victoria, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. The ZENN, and vehicles like it would be forced to only operate on closed, private roads such as parks, university campuses and military bases.

What are the consequences to such a revision?
§ The ZENN, and green vehicles like it will not enter the Canadian market
§ Consumer choice for alternative, zero emission green vehicles will remain limited to bicycles
§ Those provinces who wish to promote alternative forms of transportation (such as a Low-Speed Vehicle) will have to legislate in direct opposition to Transport Canada’s revised definition of limited on road use

Concerned? Outraged? Here’s what you can do:
All comments regarding the proposed changes must be submitted by February 20, 2008 to:

Matthew Coons, Senior Regulatory Development
Engineer, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation
Directorate, Department of Transport, Place de Ville, Tower C,
8th Floor, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
tel.:613-998-1961; e-mail: coonsm@tc.gc.ca

Tibbits (Conestoga College president) said presidents of Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, University of Windsor and McMaster University plan to attend the meeting; along with presidents of Niagara College, Mohawk College, Fanshawe College, Lambton College, Conestoga College and possibly St. Clair College.

Cooperation is a good thing.  More options is a good thing.  Seamless transitions between institutions is a good thing.

The difficulty Ontario homeschoolers have gaining access to Ontario colleges (as opposed to universities) is a bad thing.  Let’s hope that the college application process for homeschoolers tends towards the university model, and not the other way around.

The latest brainchild to come out of post-secondary education circles (in the US) is a regulation that would limit the number of university courses a student is allowed to drop during their degree.

Let’s put aside for a moment my aversion to anyone telling you what you can or cannot choose to study, especially when you’ve already paid for it in the first place.

As the article points out, this becomes a logistical nightmare: there’s suddenly a whack of more information to keep track of, and they expect that this information will follow you from school to school.

Dropping courses has been the staple of academic advising for as long as I can remember. Not sure whether you can handle a full 5 courses? Sign up for them, and after the first month if it’s too much, drop one and pick it up over the summer. Lost a few weeks due to personal circumstances? Write off the semester (if you have to) and start fresh next term.

There are already deterrents in place for dropping courses like they’re going out of style, your transcript, for one. Academic probation is another.

Anyone who makes a career out of dropping classes isn’t going to be “scared straight” by this new regulation. But, the policy may just mess up the academic lives of those in need of flexibility.

Original article from the Dallas News: College officials say law capping dropped classes may hurt students