BUILD a Bridge to Success Summer Bridge

The BUILD a Bridge to Success is a required 6-week hybrid summer bridge program for BUILD Training Program Trainees.  This program is designed to take place during the summer before matriculation at UMBC to help students successfully transition to collegiate life.  The emphasis of the summer bridge is to foster a sense of community among incoming BUILD Trainees and provide students with an opportunity to develop and/or advance their academic, scientific, personal, and professional skills that will lead to success in college and beyond.

The first three-weeks of the 2016 summer bridge will be online (July 13-29), with the last three-weeks on campus (August 1-19).

The online portion of the summer bridge will have an emphasis on advancing mathematical, writing and research skills, leadership and personal development, and team building.  During the online portion of the summer bridge, students will be expected to complete approximately 3-4 hours of coursework per day.  Students will be provided a syllabus detailing all assignments and activities, which will be coordinated and completed via Blackboard.  Assignments may include:

  • Assigned reading or videos with regular discussion posts
  • Daily online math tutorials
  • Completion of an essay
  • Activities to develop student’s personal and research skills

The on-campus portion of the summer bridge will expand on the objectives of the online portion of the summer bridge and will be divided into three components, with advancement of research skills emphasized throughout.  The three components of the summer bridge include:

  • Community development (week 1)
  • Academic skills (week 2)
  • Personal and professional skills (week 3)

Trainees will receive stipends for their participation in the BUILD Training Program and a portion of this stipend will be applied to student financial accounts to cover the full cost of summer residential housing and meals during the on-campus portion of the BUILD a Bridge to Success hybrid program.