The University Transition Program

University Transition Program
Address
240D - 1924 West Mall Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Information
School number	03995051
School board	School District 39 Vancouver
School type	Early college entrance program
Grades	11-12
Language	English
Area	Vancouver, British Columbia
Enrollment	35[1] (September 2014)
Homepage	University Transition Program Official Website

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 only 20 new students between the ages 13 to 15,^[2] half of which are from outside the Vancouver School District, out of about 200 applicants, so rigorous testing must be performed to select and accept candidates.^[3] Over the course of two years,^[4] students aim to complete the required high school curriculum along with some university level coursework.^[5] 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 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.^[6] Students of the program have access to most UBC facilities and possess UBC undergraduate student cards.^[3]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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

• The Transition Program is the winner of the 2008 Grades 8 and 9 MathChallengers, the 2009 Grade 9 MathChallengers, the 2011 Grade 9 MathChallengers, and the 2012 Grade 8 MathChallengers. Students from the Transition Program have held top placements in the Provincial MathChallengers competitions.
• Students have been invited to Seattle for the Northwest Intramurals Math Competition.
• 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 the physics competition, B.C.'s Brightest Minds, in 2009 and 2010 (Allen Zhang and Yin Shu Yang in 2010, Karlming Chen and Angus Lim in 2009). Two students, Jessica Qiu and YJ Shin, came third place in 2011.
• 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.^[9]
• A student from the Transition Program has participated in the Canada-wide Gene Researcher for a Week Program (Jennifer She 2012).
• Cheng Xie, a student from the Transition Program, won the 2014 Schulich Leader Scholarship.^[10][11]

Staff

Dr. Daria Danylchuk is the program coordinator who teaches Civics 11 and "Self and Society" and interviews applicants to the program.

• Mr. David Coopersmith (known to the students and fellow staff as Coops) teaches Biology 12, Chemistry 11 & 12, History 12, and Recreation.
• Dr. Ludmila Shepelev (known to the students and fellow staff as Shep) teaches Mathematics 11 & 12 and Physics 11 & 12.
• Mr. Jamie Zagoudakis (known to the students and fellow staff as Zag) teaches English 11 & 12, Humanities (Social Studies) 11, and Literature 12. Zagoudakis retired on June 30, 2014. He was replaced by Ms. Amy Safarik mid-October of the same year.^[7]

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.^[12] Calculus/Math is taught by Dr McDonald (Year Two) and YJ Shin (Year One), another alumnus of the program.^[8] Previously, Dr. Chris Waltham taught Physics, but after the 2007 - 2008 school year, he has since declined to continue teaching in the program. Dr Eric Nellis and Dr Michael Ward,^[13] who formerly taught Calculus/Math, have also declined to continue teaching in Transition.

References

External links

• Location of the University Transition Program: Auditorium Annex Offices B
• University Transition Program: Frequently Asked Questions
• University Transition Program's 20 Year Reunion
• University Transition Program: Upcoming and Past Events
• University Transition Program Application Document