Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) Program Student …phc.usask.ca/documents/PHC_StudentGuide.pdf · Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) ... Prairie Horticulture Certificate

PrairieHorticultureCertificate(PHC)ProgramStudentGuide

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TocontactthePHCofficegotophc.usask.ca/contact.php

ProgramOverview....................................................................................................................2ImportantDates.......................................................................................................................3Certification..............................................................................................................................3ProgramStreams......................................................................................................................3CreditHours/Weight...............................................................................................................3TransferofCredit....................................................................................................................4Admission................................................................................................................................4AccesstoCourseMaterialsandResources..............................................................................4Textbooks.................................................................................................................................5Off-campusLibraryServices.....................................................................................................5DEUWritingCentre..................................................................................................................5Awards.....................................................................................................................................5Scholarships.............................................................................................................................5CanadaStudentLoans..............................................................................................................6AcademicIntegrityandStudentConduct................................................................................6ComputerUsePolicy................................................................................................................6EmailPolicy..............................................................................................................................7SubmittingAssignments...........................................................................................................7Examinations............................................................................................................................7DeferredExaminations.............................................................................................................7SupplementalExaminations.....................................................................................................8Evaluation.................................................................................................................................8FinalGrades..............................................................................................................................8AppealingYourMarks..............................................................................................................8GradingSystem........................................................................................................................9ImprovingYourStudySkills......................................................................................................9GraduationStandards..............................................................................................................9ApplicationtoGraduate.........................................................................................................10TranscriptsandCertificateInformation.................................................................................11ContactInformation...............................................................................................................11

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ProgramOverviewThePrairieHorticultureCertificateProgram(PHC)isthefirsthome-studyprograminhorticulturedesignedspecificallyforthePrairieProvinces.Itisdesignedforbothprofessionalsworkinginthehorticultureindustryandgardeningenthusiasts.ThePHCprogramisrecognizedbytheMinisterofEducation,ProvinceofSaskatchewanfortheAdditionalQualificationCertificate(AQC)forreclassificationfromclass4toclass5teachingcertificate.Tolearnmoregoto:AdditionalQualificationCertificateThePHCprogramisalsoapprovedtrainingprogrambytheCityofSaskatoonforemployeecareeradvancement.Itisco-operativelydeliveredthroughaconsortiumofthreeWesternCanadianeducationalinstitutions:

Ø AssiniboineCommunityCollege,Brandon,MB;Ø OldsCollege,Olds,AB;Ø UniversityofSaskatchewan,Saskatoon,SK.

Eachconsortiumpartnerdevelopsanddeliverscoursesfortheprograminitsareasofexpertise.AttheUniversityofSaskatchewan,theCollegeofAgricultureandBioresources(AgBio)andDistanceEducationUnit(DEU)offerthePHCprogramjointly.OnceyouhaveappliedandbeenacceptedtotheUniversityofSaskatchewan(UofS).TheUofSwillbeyourhomeinstitution.Alltransactionsincludingregistration,tuitionfeepaymentandcommunicationaredoneattheUofSonly,throughyourPAWSaccount.PHCcoursestakenfromparticipatinginstitutionswillbetreatedasiftheyhadbeentakenattheUofS.Uponsuccessfulcompletionoftheprogram,theUofSwillawardyourPrairieHorticultureCertificate.Toreceiveyourcertificate,youmustcompleteallcoursesspecifiedforyourparticularstreamandmaintainanoverallaverageof60%.Atotalofninecoursesandaminimumof360hours(36creditweights)representtherequirementforacertificate.AppliedBotany(Hort13)andSoilsforHorticulture(SISC14)areconsideredfoundationcoursesandshouldbecompletedfirst.Next,werecommendthatyoucompletetherequiredcourses,followedbytheelectivecourses.Youareallowedtoenrollin2coursesperterm.PHCisdesignedtobeapart-timeprogram.Generally,one60-hour(sixcreditweight)courseortwo30-hour(threecreditweight)courseswouldbeareasonablecourseloadtotakeeachterm,especiallyifyouhavefamily,workand/orothercommitments.Ifyouwishtoregisterinmorethan2classesperterm,pleasecontactthePHCprogrammanagerforpermission.

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Expecttostudyeighttotenhoursperweekforasix-creditweightcourse(60hours)andapproximatelyhalfthatforathree-creditweightcourse(30hours)readingcoursematerialsandpreparingassignments.Allcourseshaveextensivecoursematerialseitherinprintformoronline.Somecourseswillrequirethepurchaseoftextbooksand/orspecializedequipment(suchaslightmeters,prunersetc.).Assignmentsaresubmittedonline,byfaxorbymail.Theassignmentswillbyreturnedonlineorbymail.Generallyspeaking,academicconcernsaretheresponsibilityofyourcourseinstructor.He/sheisresponsibleforthecoursecontent,assignments,exams,andgrades.Courseinstructorsareavailablebyemailortelephone(atdesignatedtimes)toanswerquestionsandreceivecommentsaboutthecourse.ContactinformationforyourinstructorisavailableinyourClassSyllabusTheUniversityofSaskatchewanDistanceEducationUnit(DEU)isresponsiblefortheoverallcoordinationofadministrativemattersandday-to-dayactivitiesofyourcourses.

ImportantDatesPleasereviewimportantdatesandcheckbackoftentoensurethatyoumeetalldeadlines.ImportantdatesareavailableonthewebsiteatImportantDates

CertificationToacquirethePHCCertificate,youarerequiredto:

Ø completetherequirednumberofcorecourses,togetherwiththecoursesspecifiedforaparticularstream;

Ø maintainanoverallweightedaverageof60%;andØ completeatotalofninecoursesequivalentto360credithoursor36-creditweight.

ToacquireanadditionalPHCCertificate:Ø TheUniversityofSaskatchewanwillgrantanadditionalPrairieHorticultureCertificatetoanyone

thathascompletedtherequiredcoursesforthesecondstreamandanadditional180credithours(18creditweight)ofnewcoursework(notusedforfirstcertificate).TranscriptsandCertificateparchmentswillindicatethespecificstream(s)completed.

ProgramStreamsForinformationonprogramstreams,coursedescriptionsandprogramfees,gotoProgramStreams

CreditHours/CreditWeightTodeterminethecredithoursand/orthecreditweightforaparticularcourse,simplylookatthedigitfollowingthedecimalinthecoursenumber.Thenumberthreeindicatesathree-creditweightcoursetotaling30credithours;andthenumbersixindicatesasix-creditweightcoursetotaling60credithours.

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Forexample,HORT13.6isasix-creditweightcourseequalto60hoursandHORT30.3isathree-creditweightcoursetotaling30hours.Visitthewebsiteatphc.usask.ca/courses.phptoseecoursecreditweight.

TransferofCreditsThePHCprogramhasprovisionsfortransfercreditforworkcompletedatothereducationalinstitutionsdeemedtobeequivalenttoPHCcourses.Amaximumoffourcourses(50%)maybetransferredfromotherinstitutionsthatarenotpartoftheconsortium.IfyouareaUniversityofSaskatchewanstudent,pleasedownloadthetransfercreditformatphc.usask.ca/program-overview.phpandsubmittothePHCProgramOfficeforreview.Officialtranscriptsandcomprehensivecourseoutlinesmustbesubmittedwiththetransfercreditform.IfyouarenotaUofSstudent,contactyourhomeinstitutionfordetailsatprairiehorticulture.ca/contact-us

AdmissionWhenyouapplytotheUniversityofSaskatchewan,youaregrantedadmissiontothePHCprogramonly.ToapplytoPHC,pleasegotophc.usask.ca/phc/requirementsAlldocumentationmustbereceivedbytheapplicationdeadlinedateinordertobefullyadmittedandpermittedtoregisterforcoursesbytheregistrationdeadline.Pleaseapplyearlytoensureyouareabletoregisteronlinebytheregistrationdeadlinedates,andsothecoursematerialswillreachyoubeforethestartofclasses.RegistrationdeadlinedatesareavailableonourwebsiteatImportantDatesWearenotabletomakeexceptionstodeadlinedates.Pleaseapplyearlytoavoiddisappointment.ForPHCadmissionrequirements,visitphc.usask.ca/phc/requirementsIfyouwishtoenrollinadegreecreditcourse,thegeneraladmissionproceduresmustbefollowedthroughRecruitmentandAdmissions,StudentandEnrolmentServicesathttp://explore.usask.ca/admissions.

AccesstoCourseMaterialsandResourcesIfyouhaveregisteredinacoursethatisdeliveredbyoneoftheconsortiumpartners,OldsCollegeorAssiniboineCommunityCollege,thePHCprogramofficewillforwardyourregistrationinformation,includingyourcontactinformation,tothatinstitution.Theywillthencontactyoudirectly.TheUniversityofSaskatchewandeliverscoursematerialselectronicallyviatheBlackboardManagementSystem.Onceyouregisterinaclass,theclasswillbefoundinyourPAWSaccountunderCourseTools.Theclasssyllabuswillbeavailableoneweekpriortothestartdate.Coursematerialswillbeviewableonthefirstdayofclass.Allcoursematerialwillbefoundinthiselectronicpackage.Youwill

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alsocommunicatewithyourinstructorthroughtheBlackboardclass.Pleaseensurethatyoureadalloftheinformationintheclasssyllabusandonthehomepageofeachcourse.OldsCollegeistransitioningtoonlinedeliveryofPHCcourses.Foraperiodoftime,somecourseswillbeonlinewhileotherswillstillbeofferedasprintbasedcourses.Learnmoreathttp://oldscollege.ca/phcAssiniboineCommunityCollegedeliverstheircoursepackageselectronicallyviaMoodle®.Thispackagewillcontainyourcourseguideplusinformationontheinstructor,assignmentduedates,andorderingtextbooksand/orvideos.Learnmoreathttp://public.assiniboine.net/Programs/PrairieHorticulture.aspx

TextbooksSomePHCcoursesrequiretextbooks,whichmustbepurchasedseparately.Informationisavailableinyourclasssyllabus,inyourPAWSaccountorathttp://phc.usask.ca/courses.phpToordertextbooksforcoursesdeliveredbytheUniversityofSaskatchewan,pleaseorderonlineatwww.uofsbookstore.com

Off-CampusLibraryServicesOff-CampusLibraryServicesareavailabletoallstudentsregisteredinaUniversityofSaskatchewancourseandlivingoutsideofSaskatoon.StudentslivinginSaskatoonarerequiredtousetheLibrarycollectionsandservicesinperson.AllstudentslivingoutsideSaskatoonareencouragedtovisitthelibrarywebsitetobecomeawareofthefullrangeofresourcesandservicesavailable.http://library.usask.ca/offcampus

DEUWritingCentreYouhavefreewritinghelp.TheWritingCentreprovidestoolsandsupporttohelpyouwriteeffectiveessays,reports,orreviews.Simplysubmitaprojectdraft,andaqualifiedtutorwillassessyourworkandofferadvicetoimproveyourproject.ContacttheDEUWritingCentreatdistance.writing@usask.ca

AwardsEachyearthePrairieHorticultureCertificateprogramgrantsaPHCDistinguishedGraduateawardtothestudentwhograduateswiththehighestacademicstandingintheprogram.

ScholarshipsØ TheSaskatoonHorticultureSociety(SHS)awardsa$1,000scholarshipannually.YouareeligibleifyouareenrolledinthePHCprogramandhavesuccessfullycompletedatleast2courses.Toqualify,youmustcompletethecourseworkwithin4years,beaSaskatchewanresident,volunteeratleast20hoursperyearforyourlocalHorticultureSociety,andsubmitanessay.Theapplicationdeadlineis

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September30th.PleasevisittheSHSwebsiteforanapplicationformanddetailsatwww.saskatoonhortsociety.caØ TheGardenWriters'Associationoffersscholarshipsintendedasatuitionaidorasanaidinthepurchaseoftextbooks,gardenbooks,andspecialhorticulturalprojects.Scholarshipsrangeinamountfrom$250to$2,000.Formoreinformation,gotogardenwriters.org/scholarshipsanddownloadthescholarshippacket.

CanadaStudentLoansForinformation:Website:http://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/student-loansEmail:[email protected]:1.800.597.8278toll-free

AcademicIntegrityandStudentConduct

Honestyandintegrityareexpectedinclassparticipation,examinations,assignments,andotheracademicwork.Itisuptoyou,asastudent,tobecomeinformedastohowtoconductyourselfinbothacademicandnon-academicmattersrelatedtoyourstudies.Knowyourresponsibilities.FailingtocomplywithUniversitypoliciesmayhaveseriousconsequences,includingbutnotlimitedtoacademicpenaltiesand/orwithdrawalofservice.

Theimportanceofsubjectcannotbeoveremphasizedandsothisinformationisavailable:

• ClassSyllabus• Onthehomepageofyourcourse

AcademicHonesty

Whetherworkingandstudyingonline,onpaperorinclass,youneedtobeawareofUniversityofSaskatchewanpoliciesregardingacademichonesty.PleasereviewAcademicMisconductforvaluableinformationonresponsibilitiesandexpectations.

ComputerUsePolicy

TheUniversityprovidesitscomputingfacilitiesandservicestosupportteaching,learning,research/scholarly/artisticworkandadministration.TheUniversitycommunityisentitledtouseUniversityfacilitiesandservices—includingonlineenvironmentssuchasPAWS—forthesepurposes.TheNetworkSecurityPolicydefinesacceptableuseoftheUniversitynetwork,includingwhatdevicescanandcannotbeconnectedtoit.Itisyourresponsibilitytoread,understandandcomplywiththesepolicies.

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EmailPolicy

TheElectronicMailPolicydefinesacceptableuseoftheUniversity’selectronicmail(email)service,outlinesresponsibilitiesofbothusersandserviceproviders,andprovidesguidelinesforeffectivepracticesandprocesses.Pleasereviewtheemailpolicy.

SubmittingAssignmentsBeforesubmittinganyassignmenteitherelectronicallyorbymail,makeacopyofitincasetheoriginalgetslostinthemailoryouhavecomputerproblems.Pleaserefertoyourcoursematerialforinformationonthesubmissionofassignments.Procedureswillvarybetweendeliveringinstitutions.

ExaminationsThefinalexaminationdatesarelistedintheImportantDatesofourwebsite.AllUniversityofSaskatchewanfinalexaminationsareonline.Pleasenotethatonlineexamsareviewedandtreatedthesameasanyotherfinalexam.Onlinefinalexamsaretrackedandmonitoredforirregularities.Anycollusion,collaborating,copying,cheatingoranyformofacademicmisconductisaveryseriousoffenceattheUniversityofSaskatchewanandcouldresultinsuspensionorexpulsionfromtheuniversity.ItisyourresponsibilitytobefamiliarwiththeUniversityofSaskatchewanGuidelinesforAcademicConduct.Moreinformationisavailableathttp://www.usask.ca/secretariat/student-conduct-appeals/IntegrityDefined.pdfFinalexaminationsareeither2or3hoursinlengthdependingontheclass.Theindividualclasssyllabuswillcontaindetailedinformationonthefinalexam.Thefinalexamwillbeopenfor24hours(from9:00a.m.ontheexamdayuntil9:00a.m.thefollowingday).Onceyouloginandaccesstheexam,theclockwillstarttickinginwhichyouwillhaveonlyadesignatednumberofhours(either2or3hoursdependingontheclass)tocompletetheexam.Attheendofthattimeperiod,youwillbeloggedoutoftheexam.Pleasebeawarethatonceyouhaveloggedintotheexamyoucannotleaveortrytonavigatetoanotherpartofthecourse.Ifyoudoexittheexam,youwillnotbeallowedbackinasyouareonlyallowedoneattemptatthisexam.Itisnotpossibletore-schedulefinalexaminationsasyoualreadyhavea24-hourperiodtowritetheexam.Ifyouarescheduledtowriteafinalexaminationonwhatwouldbearegularworkdayforyou,youneedtomakearrangementswithyouremployertotaketimeofftowriteyourfinalexamination.

DeferredExaminationsIfyouareunabletowriteanexaminationonthescheduleddatebecauseofcompassionateorhealthreasons,youmayapplytowritetheexaminationonthealternatedate.Arequestforadeferredexamination,alongwithdocumentaryevidence,mustbedirectedtothePHCProgramManager,DistanceEducationUnit(DEU),withinoneweekofthemissedexamination.Pleasenotethatdeferred

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examinationdatesaresetbytheUniversityofSaskatchewannotthePHCprogramofficeortheHomeInstitution.ThedeferredexaminationdatescanbefoundatImportantDates

SupplementalExaminationsStudentswhoobtainafinalcoursemarkbetween40and49%may,uponsubmissionoftheprescribedformandfee,applytowriteasupplementalexaminationinthecourseonthedeferredexaminationdateforthatterm.

EvaluationFollowingthecompletionofeachcourse,youwillbegivenafinalpercentagemarkunlessanalternatemeansofevaluationhasbeenapprovedforthatcourse.Afinalmarkof50%orbetterisrequiredtopassacourse.

FinalGradesYoumayaccessyourgradesthroughyourPAWSaccountathttp://www.paws.usask.ca

AppealingYourMark(s)TermWorkIfyouhaveaquestionorcomplaintaboutamarkonanassignment/lab,thefirststepistocontactyourinstructor.Thequickestandeasiestwaytoclearthesemattersupistofindoutwhyyoureceivedthemarkyoudid.Instructorsarenotinfallible,andtheremaybeaverysimplesolutiontoyourproblem.

FinalExaminationMarksForfinalexaminations,youareencouragedandstronglyadvisedtocommunicateinformallywithyourinstructorbeforeseekingareviewundermoreformalprocedures.Again,thiswillusuallyclearupanyquestionsyoumayhaveaboutyourfinalexaminationandyourfinalmark.Ifasolutioncannotbefoundwiththeinstructor,pleasecontactthePHCmanager.Ifyouarestilldissatisfiedaftertheaboveprocess,youshouldapplyinwritingtotheAssociateDean,Academic,CollegeofAgricultureandBioresourcesindicatingthenatureofyourcomplaintandrequestingareview.Thisshouldbeusedasalastresort.Youwillhave30daysfromthereleaseofyourfinalmark(statementofstanding)inwhichtoinitiatethefirstformalstep(awrittenrequestforareviewtotheAssociateDean).Ifyoucontinuetoremaindissatisfiedaboutyourstandingfollowingtheroutineinquirystageinthegrievanceprocess,youcanapplyforaformalre-read.There-readapplicationformmustbesubmittednolaterthan30daysafterthereleaseofthefinalmark.Theapplicationmustbesubmittedalongwiththerequired$20feetotheCollegeofAgricultureandBioresources.Ifthegradeintheclassisincreasedatleast5percentagepoints,orfromaFailtoaPass,asaresultofthere-reading,the$20feewillberefunded.

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Youshouldnotethatthefinalgradeinacourseisbasedonallcourseassessments.Ifyouwishtoappealyourfinalmark,pleasecontacttheProgramManagerfortherequiredforms.

GradingSystem

ApercentagesystemforreportingfinalgradeswasimplementedbytheUniversityofSaskatchewaninSeptember1986.Theuniversity-widedescriptorsandpercentagescoresforundergraduatecoursescanbeviewedathttps://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php

ImprovingYourStudySkillsAsastudentandespeciallyadistanceeducationstudent,youwillrequireagreatdealofpersistenceandself-discipline.Youcanexpecttoworksixtoeighthoursperweekpercourse.Bykeepingontopofyourcoursework,youwillsaveyourselffrommuchofthestressassociatedwithexams,assignmentsandcoursedeadlines.Eachtermisonlytenweekslong,soyoucannotallowyourselftofallbehind.Thebestmethodoffightingfrustrationandanxietyistoavoiditifatallpossible.Attempttosolvecoursecontentproblemsbyseekinghelpfromtheinstructoreitherbyemailorbytelephone.Ifyouareunabletoreachtheinstructor,contactthePHCProgramManager.Don’tsitonaproblemandhopeitwillgoaway—itwillnot!BecauseofthedistancesinvolvedinthePHCcourses,individualstudentprogresscannotbemonitored.Itisimpossibleforustoknowifyouarehavingproblemsunlessyoutakethefirststepandcontactus.Ifthisisthefirsttimeyouhavetakenauniversitycourseorthefirstcourseyouhavetakeninanumberofyears,andyourmarksarelowerthanyouexpectedonyourfirstassignment,donotpanic!Universitymarksaregenerallylowerthanthoseinhighschoolsortechnicalschools,etc.Althoughsomepeople’smarksimproveatuniversity,agoodruleofthumbisthatyoucanexpectyourmarkstobeapproximately10%lowerthanthoseyoureceivedinhighschool.Ifyourmarksareconsiderablylowerthanthis,youmaywanttoreviewyourstudyhabitsandtechniques,andtakestepstoimprovethem.Academicsupportisalwaysavailablethroughyourcourseinstructors.

GraduationStandardsYouwillbeeligibletoreceiveyourPrairieHorticultureCertificateaftermeetingthefollowingrequirements:

• Completionofaminimumof360credithoursandaminimumof9courses,includingtherequiredprogramcoursesinaparticularstream.Note:itispossiblethatninecoursesinsomestreamswillnottotaltherequired360credithours.

• Anoverallweightedaveragegradeabove60%.

a. Ifnecessary,classesmaybere-takentoimprovegrades.

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b. Youmayalsotakeadditionalclasses(providingthatthenine-classminimumhadalreadybeenmet)toimproveyouroverallweightedaveragegrade.

c. Insuchcases,thelowestmark(s)obtainedinthetenormoreclasseswillbeignoredincalculatingtheweightedgradeaveragesothatonlythetopninemarkswouldbeused,withtheprovisothatallcoreprogramclassesandrequiredclassesareusedincalculatingtheoverallgradeweightedaverage.

d. Ifyouwishtoraisemarksincoreandrequiredclasses,youhaveanoptiontore-takethosespecificclasses.

• Ifacourseisnotcompleted,afailingmarkhastobeassigned.Theclassnotcompletedwillbe

usedincalculatingtheweightedaveragegradeforgraduation.• Thepassinggradeforindividualcoursesis50%.

• Atleast50%ofthecoursestakentomeettherequirementsforthecertificatemustbetaken

throughthePHCprogram.

• AdditionalPHCCertificate.TheUniversityofSaskatchewanwillgrantanadditionalPrairieHorticultureCertificatetoanyonethathascompletedtherequiredcoursesforthesecondstream.Atotalofanadditional180credithours(18creditweight)ofnewcoursework(notusedforfirstcertificate)mustbecompleted.TranscriptsandCertificateparchmentswillindicatethespecificstream(s)completed.

ApplicationtoGraduateOnceyouhavecompletedthe9coursestotalingatleast360credithoursandyouwishtoreceiveyourPHCparchment,youarerequiredtosubmitanonlineApplicationtoGraduateformthroughyourPAWSaccount.CertificatesareawardedatSpringConvocationandatFallConvocation.TheapplicationdeadlineforSpringConvocationisMarch31.TheapplicationdeadlineforFallConvocationisAugust31.EvenifyouchoosenottoattendConvocation,youmuststillApplytoGraduateinordertoreceiveyourcertificateparchment.ToaccesstheApplicationtoGraduateform:

• LogintoyourPAWSaccountathttp://paws.usask.ca• SelectAcademics• SelectApplytoGraduateunderGraduation• IftheGraduationchanneldoesnotautomaticallyappear,youmayneedtoclickonthe+browse

channelsatthebottomofthemenuandaddthechannel.

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IfyouareintheprocessofcompletingyourlastclassandhavenotyetfinishedallcourserequirementsbytheendofTerm1,youwillhavetowaituntiltheFallconvocationsessiontograduate.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutyourprogramorgraduationeligibility,pleasecontactthePHCoffice.

TranscriptsandCertificateConfirmationToreceiveinformationaboutyourtranscriptsandcertificateconfirmation:

• LogontoPAWSathttp://www.paws.usask.ca• SelectAcademicTab• GotoTranscriptandDegreeConfirmation

ContactInformationShouldyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,pleasecontactthePHCoffice.ContactUs

Documents

Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) Program Student …phc.usask.ca/documents/PHC_StudentGuide.pdf · Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) ... Prairie Horticulture Certificate