Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
Instructional Center

University of Washington

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Student Transition Program

Summer Bridge Program 2005

The OMA/D Summer Bridge Program, offered by the University of Washington and administered by the Office of Minority Affair is an intensive academic program that provides an opportunity for students to prepare for the new academic, personal, and social challenges they will encounter at the University of Washington. This valuable summer experience enables students to understand the university’s expectations, increases their confidence, and helps make a smooth transition from high school to college. Students are introduced to university courses in communications, political science, math, etc., and to various academic & leadership development workshops. The Summer Bridge Program was offered first, in 1995 as a three-week residential program, late September, just before fall term started. In 2002, in addition to the three-week Autumn Bridge, another five-week program called Summer Bridge was established with a larger group of OMA/D students. In its current form, Summer Bridge is a four-week residential intensive academic program, which begins at the end of July and ends in mid-August. Additional academic and personal support is provided to students during their first year and continues throughout their entire academic career here at the university.

On Friday, August 19 at 1:00 PM in the HUB, the Summer Bridge Program 2005 ended with a closing ceremony recognizing the eighty-two students who had successfully completed this four-week program. The staff and faculty were quite pleased and proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by this year's students.

A well-rounded academic program, the 2005 Summer Bridge program consisted of university lecture courses in Biology & Psychology and intensive workshops emphasizing math, writing, and general academic skills. The university courses were taught by Professor Linda Martin-Morris from the UW Biology Department, and Professor & Chair of the UW Psychology Department, Ana Mari Cauce. Math and writing instructors, who taught the skills workshops, were employed from various university departments and the Instructional Center staff. The program’s residential life component, staffed by six talented and motivated UW Student Leaders, successfully facilitated the students’ adjustment to college life at UW. Through active participation in the Summer Bridge program, these students were able to establish an academic and social network with other first-year students and become acquainted with some of the University’s staff, faculty, and campus resources.


Last Revised
Sept 10, 2008
Email: ic@u.washington.edu