School number 03995051 Enrollment 42 (September 2016) | Grades 11-12 Number of students 42 (September 2016) | |
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School type Early college entrance program Area Vancouver, British Columbia | ||
The University Transition Program, often called the Transition Program, is an early college entrance program funded by the Vancouver School Board, the University of British Columbia and the BC Ministry of Education that is based in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Each year, the program accepts around 20 new students between the ages 12 and 15, half of which are from outside the Vancouver School District. This is out of approximately 200 applicants; rigorous testing must be performed to select acceptable candidates. Over the course of two years, students aim to complete the required high school curriculum along with some university level coursework. When they graduate from the program, the students usually are accepted into UBC earlier than they would if they had graduated from a regular high school (aged 14–16 instead of 17–18). The program was first established in 1993 by the Vancouver School Board, British Columbia Ministry of Education and the University of British Columbia. Students of the program have access to most UBC facilities and possess UBC undergraduate student cards. The program held its 20th anniversary on May 15-17, 2015.
Contents
Location
The Transition Program is located in the heart of UBC, on 240D 1924 West Mall. The building the Transition Program resides in is the Auditorium Annex located on West Mall. It is above the Math Graduates office, across from the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences building, and behind the Walter C. Koerner Library.
Work load
The University Transitions Program's student workload is much higher than most regular high schools'. It compacts the five year high school curriculum into two years. The curriculum compacting is effectively achieved due to the demonstrated high-level of learning ability and motivation of the students.
The program requires students to work hard and take responsibility for their learning outcomes while offering a supportive learning environment. The students are supported by the Transitions Program staff, parents, and themselves to ensure a positive and productive learning environment.
Achievements
Staff
Dr. Daria Danylchuk is the program coordinator who teaches Civics 11 and "Self and Society" and interviews applicants to the program.
Transition students also have two courses taught by UBC professors, which are Philosophy by Dr. Michael Griffin, who previously graduated from the program and attended Oxford University for his degree for philosophy immediately after UBC. Calculus/Math is taught by Dr McDonald (Year Two) and YJ Shin (Year One), another alumnus of the program. Previously, Dr. Chris Waltham taught Physics, but since the 2007 - 2008 school year, he has declined to continue to teach in the program. Dr Eric Nellis and Dr Michael Ward, who formerly taught Calculus/Math, have also declined to continue teaching at Transition.