A 2015 survey by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario highlighted that many students leaving high school to attend postsecondary find it difficult to transition to the new life and academic expectations of higher education. A report by Persistence in Postsecondary Education in Canada found that about 14 percent of university students drop out in their first year. The reasons cited for not continuing with their studies included the failure to meet deadlines, poor academic performance, and inadequate study habits.
In a survey conducted by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, professors clarified that they do not believe high schools do enough to prepare students for university. Among other things, professors cited lower maturity levels, poor research skills, and expectations of success without the requisite effort as areas of concern.
Study after study demonstrates that postsecondary success is linked to students' preparedness for the rigours of a postsecondary curriculum. According to Statistics Canada, almost one in seven students drop out of postsecondary education due to a lack of student engagement and academic preparedness.
For many students, when they transition to postsecondary learning environments, they no longer receive the support they have become accustomed to at the high school level. As a result, some find they are unprepared to meet academic and personal demands and struggle academically and emotionally. Students with learning disabilities face unique challenges when entering postsecondary education after high school. A successful transition to and navigation of postsecondary studies requires knowledge of one’s disability and needs as well as access to the resources and support services that may be available at the institution, and the ability to self-advocate (Milsom & Hartley, 2005).
Evoke offers a personalized program focused on developing executive function and metacognitive skills to support students in their transition to postsecondary by helping them create a vision for the kind of postsecondary experience they want to have, define their goals, and implement action steps to achieve them. Through Evoke’s Transition to Postsecondary program, students learn to develop critical academic strategies, understand how to access available resources, and learn how to make a successful transition to postsecondary studies.
Strong literacy and time management skills are critical to students as they graduate into a highly competitive and increasingly globalized labour market. Evoke practitioners work collaboratively with individual students to uncover effective strategies and solutions to meet identified needs and help students bridge the gap between ability and performance. Academic strategists focus on increasing the student’s ability to plan, prioritize, and organize and emphasize a proactive approach to learning. Our holistic program support students in their transition to postsecondary education by assisting them to:
The program requires a minimum commitment of 12 hours.