Indianapolis, IN (August 2017) – IUPUI’s Summer Bridge program, which introduces incoming freshmen to college life, will be hosted by the Division of Undergraduate Education during August 8–17, 2017. Summer Bridge participants have higher mean grade point averages (GPAs) after their first year than nonparticipants. Also, participants are significantly more likely to be retained to the next fall than nonparticipants.
Eleven academic schools representing 47 course sections will host over 1,000 students. During Summer Bridge, students participate in activities that acclimate them to IUPUI’s campus environment, academically and socially. Students learn about their schools, majors, academic support resources, general campus resources, and extracurricular options, as well as begin limited coursework, all within an exploratory and interactive environment. In addition, students gain experience in using various technology used at IUPUI, learn about the university’s expectations for reading and writing, and receive individualized support for math.
Program director Heather Bowman states, “Summer Bridge is intensive, but rewarding, and really helps students start off their college careers on the right foot.”
According to former participants, the program is a valuable bridge from high school to college. Ninety-six percent of students who have participated in Summer Bridge believe they were provided with information and experiences that helped them to succeed in college.