Summer Bridge Program at IUPUI Reaches Record High Enrollment

Indianapolis, IN (July/August 2016)- IUPUI's Summer Bridge program is a unique two-week program that helps incoming freshmen and international students "bridge" the gap between high school and college. For two weeks before the fall semester begins, Summer Bridge participants live on campus and attend specialized classes to help them learn about academic expectations, prepare for their initial collegiate year, and become accustomed to the IUPUI campus.

This year, approximately 1,100 students will attend the Summer Bridge program, the most the program has experienced since it began in 2001. As more of IUPUI's schools become participants in Summer Bridge, more and more students are rushing to participate in this unique opportunity.

According to program director Heather Bowman, “there has been significant growth” of the program and thus, an increase in the number of student participants. “Our numbers have continued to grow steadily over the last few years,” she stated, “and most academic schools on campus are now represented.” New to the bridge program this year is the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences as well as an interdisciplinary section focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, all freshmen international students are again required to attend Summer Bridge, which continues to enhance the diversity of the program.

Bowman has high aspirations for the future of the program: she hopes that someday every freshman will have the opportunity to engage in a Summer Bridge experience at IUPUI.