As their Winter 2015 semester wraps for high school students in the Fraser Cascade school district’s Transitions program, they will have their efforts recorded on both high school and university academic records, earning dual credits. Every year since 2009, School District 78 high school students have had access to first-year university courses for free thanks to an agreement between School District 78 and UFV.
The Transitions program prepares students for post-secondary education, with two courses per year available to high school students. The next one is scheduled to be held at Agassiz Secondary.
This semester’s instructor, Jennifer Armstrong, a faculty member with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, says of her first semester teaching high school students first-year university content: “students had adequately prepared themselves to take on the challenge. It was a great experience.”
The classes take place in a SD78 classroom and are arranged to not conflict with other extra-curricular programs. Students vote on offering options to determine interest. The courses adhere to UFV’s vision to “measure its success by the successes of its graduates and the successful development of the communities they serve” & the school district’s mission to “encourage each student to reach his or her potential”.
Armstrong says that it was this outstanding objective behind the program that convinced her to teach a course this past term for the program.
When asked how she would encourage an instructor unsure about teaching in a similar role, Armstrong says, “I would suggest that a first step to alleviate any uncertainty should be to connect with the other instructors who have had the benefit of teaching in the program.”
Armstrong also cites helpful Agassiz Secondary staff and successful students as beneficial to her experience in the program.
If your department would like to get involved or you’d like more information on the program, contact laura.larson@ufv.ca or michelle.vandepol@ufv.ca.
06/12/2015