Lesley Andres

HIED 493
Introduction to the Study of Post-Secondary Education

Time:	1:30-4:00 p.m., July 3-21
Room:	Ponderosa H, Room 201
Professor:	Dr. Lesley Andres
Office:	Ponderosa H, Room 112
Telephone:	822-8943
Fax:	822-4244
Email:	lesley.andres@ubc.ca
Office hours:	4:00-5:00 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, Friday

For every Canadian student, the last year of high school is a year of transition. Inherent in this transition is the decision whether to continue to post-secondary studies. Given the current economic climate, increasing emphasis on advanced credentials, and the general trend toward a "learning society," more and more youth are entering the post-secondary system immediately or shortly after high school graduation.

For those who continue to the post-secondary system following high school, the choice is not simply one of selecting one post-secondary alternative over another. Decisions are made within the social, cultural, historical, and interpersonal context of the deciding individual. Constraints and opportunities due to socio-economic circumstances, geographic location, cognitive and non-cognitive personality traits affect the decision making process. Social conditions of inequality, cultural and economic resources, and the prevailing employment climate also impinge on decision making. An informed decision requires a long-term planning perspective, crystallized preferences, and recognition of constraints and opportunities. Ironically, such a complex life decision occurs during adolescence, the very stage of human development that tends to be characterized by unstable preferences, limited past experience, and opaque career goals.

The complexity of this transition is compounded by the dynamic nature of the post-secondary system itself. Currently, the British Columbia post-secondary system includes five public universities, one private university, five university colleges, eleven community colleges, three public institutes, an Open University, an Open College, and hundreds of private colleges and trade schools. Students leaving high school are confronted with a post-secondary system that is extensive and highly diversified.

Teachers and counsellors have a significant role to play in guiding students through the transition from high school. They are critical "gatekeepers" who possess key information about the types and roles of various post-secondary institutions and the value of different types of academic credentials.

Purpose:

The purpose of this course is to provide teacher education students and secondary teachers with an overview of the Canadian post-secondary system, in general, and the British Columbia post-secondary system in detail, and to emphasize the role that secondary school teachers and counsellors play in facilitating the transition from high school.

Course Objectives:

1. To provide an overview of the structure of the post-secondary system in Canada and British Columbia and to delineate the roles and functions of various types of Canadian post-secondary institutions;

2. To outline factors affecting post-secondary participation;

3. To prepare teachers and counsellors to take an active role in assisting secondary students with post-secondary planning.

Readings:

The following resources will be distributed in class:

British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer. (1996). British Columbia Transfer Guide 1996-1997. Vancouver: Vancouver Community College Press.

Download these materials:

British Columbia Ministry of Skills, Education, & Training. (1997). Career and Personal Planning 8 to 12. Integrated Resource Package. Province of B.C. (http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/capp/cappptoc.htm)

1999 Guide to British Columbia's Public Post-secondary Institutions. Victoria: Ministry of Advanced Education, Training, and Technology. (www.aett.gov.bc.ca/postsecguide/)

Other course readings will be distributed in class. A photocopy fee of $2.00 will be collected to cover the costs of additional photocopied materials.

Course Requirements and Evaluation

The assignments are designed to 1) allow class participants to reflect on their own decisions about post-secondary choices, 2) explore ways to help high school students make choices about post-secondary participation, and 3) translate course content and self-reflection into practice.

Evaluation will be based on the following class assignments:

1. Participation

Given the short duration of this course, students are expected to attend all classes and participate in class discussions. The grade for participation will be based on three criteria: 1) attendance, 2) evidence of having read the relevant readings, and 3) meaningful contributions in class. A total of 15% of the grade may be earned through participation.

2. Educational Autobiography

In 3-5 pages, document your post-secondary educational history. Provide a description of each educational decision point in your post-secondary career and describe 1) why you made each choice, 2) information and resources used in the decision, 3) barriers and information gaps you encountered, and 4) people and resources facilitating the decision. This assignment is worth 20% of your final grade.

3. Post-secondary Planning

The purpose of this assignment is to employ various resources (e.g., WWW, reference materials in the library, university and college calendars, individuals) in order to:

a. Advise a student about a particular post-secondary path. Each class member will be provided with a profile of a senior secondary student. The profile will describe the student’s academic achievements to date, educational and career interests, family background, financial situation, and geographic location. Using a variety of resources, your task is to describe how you would advise this student in making choices about life after high school. The assignment should be 4-5 pages in length and include the following: a description of available resources, advantages and disadvantages of various options, and a strategy for advising the student over her/his Grade 12 year. (20% of final grade)

b. Describe the educational path to a given career. Choose a career that is of interest to you (e.g., professional architect, real estate developer, chef). Use the resources listed in 2.a. to describe the educational route required to obtain the credentials necessary for such a career. Describe various options (e.g., availability of programs at various post-secondary institutions) and list the advantages and disadvantages of each. This assignment should be 4-5 pages in length and is worth 20% of the final grade.

4. Final Presentation

Outline three strategies that you, as a secondary teacher, will employ within and outside the classroom to enhance the transition from high school to the post-secondary system. First, describe the sorts of actions you can employ within a given classroom day, and outline two specific learning activities that you could use in the classroom. Incorporate information from your web-based searches, information available in the CAPP IRP, and information available in the library. Each student will have 15-20 minutes to present these strategies to the rest of the class. This assignment is worth 25% of the final grade (25% of final grade).

Course Schedule

Date	Topic	Readings	Assignments
Week 1
July 4	The Transition from High School An introduction to the field of higher education Definition of terms - post-secondary education, tertiary education, and adult education
	Introduction to the topic of transitions
July 5	The Structure of the Canadian Education System An overview of each provincial system of post-secondary education	CAPP IRP (1997), p. 1-12
July 6	The British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT) (Guest speakers - Finola Finlay, BCCAT)	BCCAT Transfer Guide (1997)
July 7	School - university liaison (Guest speakers: - Janet Teasedale, First Year Coordinator - Wendy Trigg, Arts Advisor, UBC - Cheryl Dumaresq, School & College Liaison Office)
Week 2
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL MEET IN THE LAB (SCARFE Room 1011) ALL WEEK
July 10	The CHOICES Program (Guest speaker - Bill Sloan, Careerware)		Assignment #2 Educational Autobiography
July 11	Requirements for Admission to Post-secondary Education from High School Web based and text based resources	1999 Guide to British Columbia's Public Post- secondary Institutions. CAPP IRP (1997). Various web sites
July 12	Transfer within the Post-secondary System Web based and text based resources	Various web sites
July 13	Career and Personal Planning in Relation in Post-secondary Participation Web based and text based resources	Various web sites. CAPP IRP (1997), pp. 14-15, 34-35, 54-55, 74-75
July 14	Web based and text based resources
Week 3
July 17	Applied academic degrees (Guest speaker - Ann McArthur, BCIT)
	The community college system and issues of student success (Guest speaker: Ted James, Douglas College)
July 18	Adult Education for Secondary School Teachers (Guest speakers: Shauna Butterwick and Tom Sork)	CAPP IRP (1997) 28-31, 48-51, 68-71, 88-91	Assignment #3a and 3b
July 19	Student Financial Assistance What Secondary Teachers Need to Know	CAPP IRP (1997) A-3, A-4, A-10, A-13, A-14, Appendix C & D
July 20	Class Presentatins - Strategies for the Classroom		Assignment #4 (presentation)
July 21	Class Presentations - Strategies for the Classroom		Assignment #4 (presentation)

Supplementary Reading List

Andres, L. (1993). Life trajectories, action, and negotiating the transition from high school. In P. Anisef & P. Axelrod (Eds.), Transitions: Schooling and Employment in Canada (pp.137-157). Toronto: Thompson Press.

British Columbia Labour Force Development Board. (1995). Training for What? Victoria: Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour.

Gregor, A. (1992). Introduction: Higher Education in Canada. In A. Gregor & G. Jasmin (Eds.), Higher Education in Canada (pp. 7-13). Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services.

Guidebook for Graduates. 1997-1998.

Holmes, J. (1992). Programs. In A. Gregor & G. Jasmin (Eds.), Higher Education in Canada (pp. 59-65). Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services.

Ministry of Advanced Education, Training, & Technology. (1992). Client Survey Project. Summary.

Secondary to Post-secondary Transition Review Team. (1997). Moving On. Summary of a Report to the Minister of Skills and Training on Post-secondary Transition.

Skolnik, M. (1992).Higher Education Systems in Canada. In A. Gregor & G. Jasmin (Eds.), Higher Education in Canada (pp. 15-25). Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services.