The Impact of a Summer Bridge Program on Nontraditional Student Development

• In Event: Embracing Nontraditional Experiences: What Institutions Can Do Differently

Abstract

Research has shown that summer bridge programs (SBP) improve the likelihood that students will succeed in postsecondary education. However, the majority of SBP research has focused on programs designed for underprepared high school graduates. This study sought to fill this literature gap by taking a qualitative approach to discover how past non-traditional students felt they had developed, both academically and personally, during their respective SBP experiences. Results showed that students reported growing personally and affectively more than academically, and attributed the majority of this growth to their instructors rather than the curriculum. Findings are discussed in terms of SBP instruction and staffing practices that may promote non-traditional students’ college preparation and persistence to award attainment.

Authors

• Leah D. Morgan, The Ohio State University

• Lindsay Kutrybala, University of Houston