The University Transition Program

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 Ministry of Education that is based in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Each year, the program accepts only 20 new students, between the ages 13 to 15, out of about 200 applicants, so rigorous testing must be performed to select and accept 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 graduated from a regular high school (aged 15–17 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.[1]

Location

The Transition Program is located in the heart of UBC, on 240D 1924 West Mall. The building that the Transition Program resides in is the Auditorium Annex, located on West Mall 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 student work load 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 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 in their work load by the Transitions Program staff, counselor, parents and the students themselves to ensure a positive and productive learning environment.

Achievements

• The Transition Program is the winner of the 2008 Grades 8 and 9 MathChallengers, the 2009 Grade 9 MathChallengers, and the 2011 Grade 9 MathChallengers.
• Students have been invited to Seattle for the Northwest Intramurals Math Competition.
• Students from the Transition Program have held top placements in the Provincial MathChallengers competitions.
• The Transition Program has won awards at numerous Model United Nations Conferences.
• The Transition Program has won a Reach for the Top Junior Championship in 2003.
• The Transition Program is the winner of the 2009 Investja investment competition.
• Four students from the Transition Program won thephysics competition, B.C.'s Brightest Minds, in 2009 and in 2010 (Allen Zhang and Yin Shu Yang 2010) and (Karlming Chen and Angus Lim 2009) [2].
• Students from the Transition Program have won many awards in the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair competitions.
• Students from the Transition Program have been invited to the Canada-Wide Science Fair competitions as Finalists, and won awards.

Staff

Daria Danylchuk is the program coordinator who teaches Civics 11 and interviews applicants to the program

• David Coopersmith (known to the students and fellow staff as Coops) teaches Biology 12, Chemistry 11 & 12, History 12, and Recreation.
• Ludmila Shepelev (known to the students and fellow staff as Shep) teaches Mathematics 11 & 12 and Physics 11 & 12.
• Jamie Zagoudakis (known to the students and fellow staff as Zag) teaches English 11 & 12, Humanities (Social Studies) 11, and Literature 12.

References

Websites: http://universitytransition.ubc.ca/

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/university-transition-program