BRIDGE Program
The BRIDGE Program assists incoming students who are new to ESU
Building Relationships, Inclusion, Diversity, and Global Equity (BRIDGE)
Building Relationships, Inclusion, Diversity, and Global Equity (BRIDGE) is designed to assist incoming students with their transition to Emporia State University (ESU). The program assists in building a cohort to support them in their first year at ESU, connects them with resources on campus, and builds skills around dialogue and communicating across differences. Using a social justice education framework, BRIDGE helps students enhance their critical thinking skills while exploring their individual and group identities within the context of exploring issues of gender, race, sexuality, socio-economic class, spirituality, power, and privilege through the framework of storytelling.
PRIORITY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participants must meet one of the following criteria:
- First-generation college student
- Member of an historically marginalized population
- Low-income
- A participant in one of these programs: Emerging Scholars, KC Scholars, TRIO SES & STEM, AVID, or Gear Up
BRIDGE Benefits:
- Personalized, year-long cohort in the residence halls
- A head start in learning about different campus and community resources
- Assistance in beginning to navigate college expectations and identify resources to help adjust to college
- Additional support and programs from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, TRIO SSS, and the Intercultural Center staff during the academic year
Topics of workshops include:
- Exploring ways to finance college
- Enveloping skills for dialogue across differences
- Exploring identity development
- Connecting with others to build community
- Exploring ways to think differently and more critically about diverse topics
These workshops are designed to incorporate different learning strategies and utilize different modes of learning to better serve all participants. This program includes structured opportunities for students to engage in authentic deliberate dialogue across differences in order to build genuine connections.
BRIDGE Students will have the chance to move in a week early and participate in workshops and programs focused on helping students get comfortable with the Emporia State University campus and identify campus resources.
This program introduces students from historically excluded populations to specific faculty, staff, administrators, student leaders, and other campus resources that can help facilitate an easier transition to student life.
Participants will live on campus during the program. Room, food, and transportation will be provided by Emporia State University at no cost to participants. All students are welcome to apply, with priority admittance given to students who meet the criteria. Participants do not need to live in campus housing for the entire academic year to participate.
Contact + Questions
For questions contact Percy Holt, Coordinator for BRIDGE and the Intercultural Center