High school students all over Canada are getting ready for a major transition that will take place in about seven months: the shift to post-secondary education. For some, it is an easy change. These are the students who are sure of their educational directions and have a specific career goal in mind. There are those, however, who like the idea of going to university but are unsure of their final destinations.
For these students, universities in Canada have recently begun to offer first-year experience programs (FYE). These programs allow the students to explore all of the academic offerings in a supported environment that facilitates student engagement, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary content. Imagine a course called Human Dilemmas that is taught by three different instructors from English, Sociology and Business. The course is all about confronting the recurring dilemmas that define and shape our lives. It is taught in a small learning community to allow students to engage with one another in the learning process.
An FYE program also ensures there are supports in place to nurture the new student and help him or her make the successful transition to university. There are also lots of intentional opportunities for students to bond with each other such as a week-long orientation and field experiences.
FYEs have been prevalent in American universities since the 1990s. They have been shown to increase student success and retention as well as give students a first year that stands out in their university experience. Here in British Columbia, there are several universities that have some form of an FYE, most notably Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern BC.
Capilano University’s strategic and academic plans have proposed the development of an FYE, which will be piloted in September 2017. The last year has seen a committee develop a framework and conduct consultation for a unique Cap Year Experience. You can read about it at www.capilanou.ca/about/strategic-planning
The first year of university is a pivotal year in the academic, intellectual, social and emotional development of students. An FYE program can be an excellent fit for a transitioning student.
