With two August sessions to choose from, students can explore academic interests, make connections, and more
Indiana University Northwest invites all incoming students enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester to get a jumpstart on college with its Summer Bridge Program.
With two sessions to choose from, either August 3-7 or August 17-21, the program is free and open to students in all majors. Delivery of the sessions, whether virtual or in-person, is to be determined and attendees will be notified of the format at a future date.
Both sessions take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Summer bridge offerings include topics in the arts and humanities, social and behavior sciences, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Activities and field trips are designed to help students prepare for college classes, explore new interests, gain confidence, and form connections with fellow students, peer mentors and the faculty. The week ends with the "Student Showcase" and a special group event (picnic, field trip, or other group activity).
Kris Huysken, associate professor of geosciences, said the week is designed to immerse students in scholarly and creative activities and help them feel engaged and empowered to use these skills.
“The goal is for students to feel inspired and to develop deeper connections, both to IU Northwest, and their own education,” she said. “Throughout the week, students work and learn together. Whether measuring water quality in local rivers and lagoons, or constructing original performance pieces, students collaborate to create something new and original, and share their scholarship with others.”
Students who successfully complete their summer bridge earn a $250 credit to help pay for books for their first year at IU Northwest. "In addition, students who complete the Summer Bridge experience will be allowed to enroll in the Freshman Seminar (F116) for four credits, applying their Bridge experience as one credit toward the Freshman Seminar class.
Activities are free and open to all incoming students, but space is limited. Please register at iun.edu/coas-summer-bridge/.
The additional, first session is made possible through a Summer 2020 Covid-19 Learning Support Grant from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE), which recently awarded more than $135,000 to 11 college, university and community partners, including IU Northwest, to support graduating high school seniors in their transition to college. This enables more students to be able to take advantage of IU Northwest’s summer bridge program than in previous years.
For more information, contact Candace Clark at clbeck@iun.edu.
