Benefits of Becoming a Summer Bridge Scholar
Through this experience, Summer Bridge Scholars are better prepared to enter college and also develop a sense of connectedness to the UMKC campus and the larger Kansas City community. Once scholars successfully complete the summer semester with a 2.0 GPA and 90% attendance rate in programming, they will transition to being fully admitted to UMKC in the fall 2024 semester!
As a Summer Bridge Scholar, your summer scholarship will cover tuition, meal plan, textbooks, assessments, excursions, parking pass, transportation, and residence life housing (if you choose to live on campus). Scholars that successfully complete the program will also receive a $500 scholarship for the fall 2024 semester.
2024 Summer Bridge Scholar Details
The Summer Bridge Scholars program will offer both online and on-campus components. The entire eight week program will run from June 3, 2024 to July 26, 2024.
Online program (June 3 - June 19)
Scholars will participate in the first three weeks of the program virtually. Students will participate in engaging online programming and will be enrolled in two eight-week courses from 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday during these first three weeks. While many of the activities will be computer-based, please know that students will not be stationed at a screen for the full eight hours each day.
On-campus program (June 20 - July 26)
Scholars who successfully complete the first three weeks of the online program with a 90% or higher attendance rate will transition to the last five weeks of the program, which will be an on-campus experience. Students have the option to reside in the residence hall or commute to campus. Scholars will continue their two eight-week courses and participate in academic support programming from 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday during these five weeks.
Residential Program:
Students will reside in the residence hall (at no cost) and continue their engagement in two courses (in-person) and academic support programming on campus from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Monday-Friday during these five weeks. This option is open to all Summer Bridge Scholars, but students who will be residing in their residence halls in the fall are strongly encouraged to participate in this version of the program to become accustomed to living on campus early.
Residential Move In (Thursday, June 20, 2024)
Residential Move Out (Friday, July 26, 2024)
Non-Residential Program:
Students will commute to campus and continue their engagement in two courses (in-person) and academic support programming on campus from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Monday-Friday during these five weeks. Students who select this option must live within 30 miles of campus and have reliable transportation to and from campus.
Academic preparedness
Scholars will have the unique opportunity to enroll in two eight-week summer courses that fulfill degree requirements, to give them a head start on their first year of coursework at UMKC. The Summer Bridge Scholars program coordinator will communicate these options with scholars. Each Summer Bridge Scholar will finish the summer session with at least four college credits.
Cultural enrichment
Scholars will gain knowledge of diverse cultures, cross-cultural communication, the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the uses of power between groups. They will develop and explore their own competence regarding the dimensions of difference, especially as it relates to others in their communities. Scholars will gain knowledge about notable historical and political figures in the Kansas City community. Finally, scholars will be challenged to examine their own perceptions about the history and influence of people of color in the Kansas City community.
Professional development
Scholars will be introduced to the resources provided by UMKC Career Services. Scholars will learn professional networking skills, interview strategies and resume building through seminars and interactive activities. Scholars will also have the opportunity to participate in networking events over the summer and connect with an on-campus professional mentor.
Peer mentoring
Scholars will be placed into a smaller cohort with other scholars and be paired with a peer mentor, who will be a current UMKC student or recent graduate. Each week, scholars will engage in group team-building sessions as well as one-to-one mentoring sessions. Peer mentors will provide scholars with engaging workshops on topics such as balancing academic and social life, the importance of student involvement on campus, practicing self-care, communication skills, time management and organization, setting boundaries with family members, accessing community resources, and campus navigation.
