Students applying for Dual Credit and Exploratory programs are required to submit a Statement of Support from a staff member at their school. This staff member could be a teacher, guidance counsellor, administration, Off-campus Coordinator, etc. The staff member submitting the statement should know the student well enough to comment on the items below and answer follow up questions from the Unique Pathways team (if required).
Our programs run with industry, community and post-secondary instructors who offer true industry and post-secondary experiences. Although we assign a supervising teacher to each program, they are not present at all times and follow the lead of the program instructor. The levels of support offered in CBE schools may not be available at partner sites.
Honest communication is key to setting students up for success and providing a positive off-campus learning experience.
Items to discuss in the Statement of Support:
- Staff name and contact information
- In what capacity do you know this student?
- How long have you known this student?
- What is the student’s level of interest in the program?
- How has the student demonstrated readiness to take part in this off-campus education experience? Consider academic readiness and work habits, attendance, behaviour/character.
- How might the student require additional support in this off-campus education experience? Consider learning and social supports offered at home high school that may not be available.
This statement does not need to be lengthy – a paragraph will suffice. It is similar to a reference letter, but does not need to be formal.
The statement should include how the teacher knows the student and the teacher’s contact information.
Example 1 – Brief Paragraph
I taught Science 10 to Student A this semester. Student A did well in all sections of Science 10, had good attendance and work ethic throughout. Although she struggled with group work initially, she was able to find a group that had a good dynamic and they worked together for all remaining projects. She and I spoke on multiple occasions about her career aspirations in the Veterinary profession. She has a passion for animals and a proven successful track record for online learning through the course she took with CBe-learn last year. In my opinion, this makes them an exceptional candidate for this program. I strongly support their application in this endeavor.
Example 2 – Formal Reference
I am writing in support of student for the Culinary Arts program.
I have worked with student in two capacities – as their Math teacher, and as their homeroom teacher at High School.
Student is a determined worker, and diligently and independently worked their way through the requirements for the Certificate of Achievement and onto the requirements for the Alberta High School Diploma. In their Grade 11 year and first semester of Grade 12, they took on a heavier than normal course load, adding core classes in place of option classes in order to graduate in three years with their diploma.
During this time, student has demonstrated exceptional responsibility and time management. Student has an accommodation to listen to music while working – this has been quite successful for independent work time but has been impossible to offer in the kitchen environment. Although quite anxious at first, student’s confidence has grown in their time spent in the Culinary department at school, and they have been a contributing member of the kitchen since - a further confirmation that a career in the culinary arts is where they belong.
I fully support student’s application to the Culinary Arts program, but would like to discuss strategies that have and have not worked at your convenience in order to set student up for success.
