Clifton Grant

Transfer Students
Mature Students
Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS)

Readjusting to university life as a mature student

The last time Clifton Grant stepped inside a classroom was in 1995, almost 30 years ago. On top of his transition back to post-secondary education, he began his studies during the pandemic when schooling was done completely virtually.

After not being part of the university environment for several years, Grant had to learn how to improve his writing to meet academic standards and readjust to his academic journey.

“I attended learning skills workshops, writing centre workshops and one-on-one appointments to strengthen my time management and critical thinking skills,” says Grant, a third-year law and society student. “I learned that these barriers are all part of the journey, and the key is to continue to thrive for improvement.”

Tailored support for mature and part-time students

As part of his transition, Grant uncovered the Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS) that provides support to all mature and part-time students.

“ACMAPS has been very instrumental in my transition back to school and my subsequent success as a mature student,” says Grant. “They provided me a home on campus.”

This experience helped Grant look forward to networking with staff, peers and getting involved on campus. He was so inspired that he decided to get involved in the community as an ACMAPS peer mentor.

“I have gotten the most satisfaction from mentoring fellow students and assisting them on their educational journey,” says Grant. “University is a challenging experience filled with many ups and downs but if you continue to apply yourself and stay invested in your journey, you will find success. Remember the three D’s for achievement: dedication, discipline and determination.”

For any new incoming mature students, Grant also advises to remember to not be too hard on yourself, and to look forward to the new experiences ahead.

Explore York’s Student Services

There are many supports and opportunities available for mature and part-time students at York. Explore the various services offered on the ACMAPS website to find resources built to assist your unique journey.

  1. ACMAPS Transition Coaches – this program gives incoming students customized support during their transition to York by offering guidance, valuable service networking and more.
  2. Peer Mentorship – gain insight about succeeding at York, learn about campus resources or just sit with a fellow mature student to chat.
  3. ACMAPS events and sessions – explore the events calendar to find sessions that pique your interest, find drop-in mentoring sessions, learn a new skill and more.