The Impact of Bridge Programs on Black Students

How intensive summer and academic year programs have provided Black students with confidence and resources to navigate their freshman year

Students singing along in Bridge’s karaoke night. Photo by Nadia Kimbrough

EVANSTON, ILL.

For five weeks before college began, Yasmin Jenkins lived in a dorm with 50 other students while participating in Warren Summer Bridge. Now, after graduating from the program, Jenkins said she’s happy the experience “forced” her to make friends. 

Bridge programs at Northwestern invite first generation and low income (FGLI) students to campus a couple weeks before classes begin at no charge to participants. They aim to provide students with skills such as time management, campus knowledge and academic resources.

The program Jenkins participated in specifically targets Weinberg and Medill students who identify as FGLI. Jenkins said she was happy to participate in the program because it filled in the gaps that came from attending an underserved high school. 

“And even though you didn’t have the resources given to you in high school, we’re gonna give you those resources in five weeks,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said it was easier for her to find academic resources on campus and help out other first years. It’s fulfilling to know that she can also assist and support others.

Aileen Yanney, a first year studying journalism, participated in Summer Academic Workshop (SAW), this past summer. 

“It's such an amazing opportunity, and a lot of people think it's just extra work. It really isn't. You're hanging out with people and having fun while, of course, getting work done, but it's also so necessary,” Yanney said.

While both of these summer programs consist of course work that prepares them for their classes at Northwestern, both Yanney and Jenkins said they helped build strong connections with other students earlier than others. 

Jonnithan White, a senior from South Florida studying Environmental Engineering, said he was in BioChem Excel his freshman year, a program for incoming students in Weinberg interested in STEM. 

“It set me up with some close friends, people I still know and say what's up to today,” White said.

The counselors in the program really showed him what the college experience was like and the different paths he could take. 

Natalie Jackson, a freshman from Chicago is currently participating in SESP Leadership Institute (SLI), a fall quarter intensive academic program. It’s open for FGLI students in any Northwestern school. Even though she said she’s only been in classes for a few weeks, she already feels the sense of community.

“Everyone is really supportive, and I really enjoy the coursework,” Jackson said.

Along with gaining a sense of community and preparing for the rigors of college, Jenkins said Bridge programs also help boost FGLI students' sense of self-efficacy. Jenkins said that coming to Northwestern was initially daunting for her because she felt like she “didn’t deserve” to attend. 

In a study done by the Pell Institute, a research group which supports FGLI students, 40% of college students reported experiencing stereotypes due to their FGLI status. Specifically, they note their intelligence being disregarded by professors and other students. 

“I would say Bridge took that all away from me. Bridge kind of prepared me, took away the impostor syndrome, addressed at day one, like, you deserve to be here,” Jenkins said.