Summer Bridge Program

The primary purpose of the Summer Bridge Program is to build a community between incoming students and to prepare each one for research and leadership roles at Louisiana State University. Participants gain tools needed for success in college, which very often means realizing that they don't already have the tools. The program also serves as an intensive orientation to LSU and the demands of college coursework where the expectations of the LA-STEM Research Scholars Program and HHMI Professors Program are clearly defined.

Through their coursework, activities, and social programs, the scholars attempt to model an ideal community in terms of friendship, responsibility, diversity, celebration, collaboration, and caring. Moreover, the scholars develop a strong interdependent support network that will reinforce their learning outside the classroom and positively impact their development academically, socially and professionally while they are undergraduates at Louisiana State University and beyond. The Summer Bridge participants, mentors, staff, and parents celebrate at the end of the summer with a reception. The students create and give group presentations about their experiences at Summer Bridge to parents and LSU administration.

In the past years of the Summer Bridge Program, informational sessions were conducted in the form of workshops by STEM professors, program staff, and summer bridge senior mentors. Additionally, the summer bridge scholars participated in other activities throughout the summer which promoted bonding, interdependence, and social integration. Summer workshops and activities in the past have included:

Another major component of the Summer Bridge Program is the Service Learning Project. See the LA-STEM Scholars Give Back link for more information about the Service Learning Project.