HSBC Steps to University Program

The HSBC Steps to University Program is offered in collaboration with the TDSB (Toronto District School Board), the LAWS (Law in Action Within Schools) program of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Pathways to Education at Regent Park Community Health Centre. It is aimed at making university studies more accessible to students who have the potential to excel but have been marginalized due to socio-economic status, race or ethnicity, family history or various other factors.

The University of Toronto in association with the TDSB, and with its predecessor, the Toronto Board of Education, has been offering the program since 1992. The program has generous financial support from HSBC Bank Canada and the TDSB. The program offers sections of undergraduate university courses (Drama 100Y at Lakeshore CI, Philosophy 271H1 at Central Technical CI and Sociology 101Y at other 11 remaining participating locations) to secondary school students who come from communities and socioeconomic groups historically underrepresented in university.

• to encourage participating students to complete their secondary school diploma (known as an OSSD)
• to do so at a level that will enable their participation in postsecondary studies
• to induce students to undertake such postsecondary studies
• to encourage them wherever practicable to select university programs for those post-secondary studies

While the University of Toronto admits HSBC Steps to University on the same basis as all other applicants, it does encourage these students to include it in their university application. Many HSBC Steps to University students choose to apply to or accept offers from other universities because of program preferences.

Successful completion of the courses offered through HSBC Steps to University provides credit applicable to the Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Toronto. The credit is often also transferrable to other post-secondary institutions and the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto, if they later enroll there. Students take the course in their high school but have access to on-campus libraries and student facilities. Those admitted to the program register as part-time students in the Transitional Year Programme and take the university course available in their high school.

HSBC Steps Awards Evening 2011

• Bloor Collegiate Institute
• Central Technical School
• Emery Collegiate Institute
• George Harvey Collegiate Institute
• Lakeshore Collegiate Institute
• Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute
• Monarch Park Collegiate Institute
• North Albion Collegiate Institute
• Oakwood Collegiate Institute
• Parkdale Collegiate Institute
• Regent Park Community Health Centre (Pathways to Education)
• Western Technical-Commercial School
• Westview Centennial Secondary School