The Impact of Summer Bridge Programs on Division I Student-Athlete Academic Success

• In Event: Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Instructional, Programmatic, and Student Service Support for Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Summer bridge programs (SBPs) enroll incoming first-year students in coursework prior to their first full academic year. These early support services are intended to ease freshman transition into college, improve students’ academic and social integration, and therefore lead to long term retention. Using longitudinal student-athlete academic data from over 300 Division I schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), this study examines whether attending SBPs improves student academic performance and retention in the first year and increases the probability of undergraduate degree completion. Propensity score matching method is used to address the selection bias in estimating SBP treatment effects.

Authors

• Keke Liu, The National Collegiate Athletic Association

• Lydia F. Bell, National Collegiate Athletic Association

• Thomas S. Paskus, National Collegiate Athletic Association