Developing and Sustaining Summer Bridge Programs

We aim to bring together colleagues who share a common interest in Computer Science and Engineering Bridge programs, which are designed to bridge the gap for less experienced and/or underserved students as they begin their university studies. We invite those interested in starting bridge programs at their institutions, as well as those knowledgeable about existing bridge programs, their best practices, and lessons learned. Together, we will discuss the most effective approaches to these programs and challenges that arise in their implementations, including exclusivity in the selection of admits, target audience, funding limitations, outreach, and more. We aim to have participants leave with resources, including information about other programs, points of contact for networking, a collaborative document from the session, as well as a website for hosting resources of existing programs. Our goal is to foster conversation and create a network of support so these programs can sustain despite general discouragement.