Misericordia University Bridge Program Helps First-Year Students Prepare for College Success

Students Arrive on Campus Early to Build Academic Skills, Connections and Confidence 

DALLAS, PA - As Misericordia University students return to campus and the fall semester gets underway, a group of incoming first-year students received an early start through the University’s Bridge Program, designed to help ease the transition from high school to college.

Offered through Misericordia’s Student Success Center, the Bridge Program gives participating first-year students the opportunity to arrive on campus five days before the beginning of their first semester. During that time, students become familiar with college-level expectations while developing academic and personal skills they can carry with them throughout their time at Misericordia.

The timing of the program provides students with an opportunity to settle into campus life and begin forming connections before the pace of the academic year begins.

Through a series of workshops, students explore skills that can become especially important during the first weeks of college, including note-taking, organization, time management, textbook reading and goal development. The program also addresses the personal side of the transition to college through discussions of stress management, peer pressure and positive thinking.

Students participating in the program are also assessed in areas including study skills, personality and learning style, and self-esteem. The results help students identify areas where they may benefit from additional strategies while also recognizing and building upon their existing strengths.

Beyond academic preparation, the Bridge Program allows students to begin establishing a sense of community at Misericordia. By arriving ahead of the traditional start of the semester, participants have opportunities to connect with fellow students and become acquainted with staff and faculty members who can serve as part of their support network throughout the year.

Those early connections complement the broader work of the Student Success Center, which provides academic support, tutoring, writing assistance and personalized guidance to Misericordia students. The center focuses on developing students’ academic and social skills, connecting them with campus resources and encouraging self-efficacy as they progress through their education.

For more information about the Bridge Program and other academic support services available through Misericordia University’s Student Success Center, click here.