The Academic Bridge Program

Mission:

The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) seeks to attract, support, and retain students who graduate from Dallas-area urban high schools with high class rankings without having completed the full university-track curriculum. This summer scholarship program is offered to selected entering freshmen and gives students the opportunity to begin their university education immediately following their high school graduation. UTD believes strongly in the capabilities of these students and fosters the Bridge Program as a supportive introductory environment for those who choose to attend The University of Texas at Dallas.

To listen to more information regarding the ABP program and its success please go to the following link.

Click here.

The Academic Bridge Program provides:

1. Free on-campus housing for the months of June and July, including a weekly meal stipend
2. Tuition and fees for up to 7 semester hours of courses, including college-level Mathematics, Rhetoric, and introduction to Engineering / Computer Science.
3. Small class sizes (20 or less students)
4. Tutoring and supplemental instruction
5. Campus orientation activites
6. Extra-curricular activities and field trips
7. The Bridge Builders Award, a $1,000 scholarship awarded to excellent Summer Bridge Program students

Eligible students will:

1. Be admitted to UTD: Office of Enrollment Services at UTD
2. Be ranked in the top 20% of the senior class.
3. Have graduated from a high school in the Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, or Lancaster ISD.
4. Demonstrate potential for success at UTD.
5. Have passed the THEA Test by the opening of the Bridge Program (first week of June)

Application Form for Academic Bridge Program

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Soli Ghirmai, M.A.
Director, Academic Bridge Program
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road
School of Interdisciplinary Studies, HH 34
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021
Phone: 972.883.2655   FAX: 972.883.2440
email: solig@utdallas.edu

Curriculum:

The first day of school, students are given a math assessment test. According to their scores, students are placed in either College Algebra or Pre-Calculus. Orientation, registration, and the distribution of books is also done the same day. Students "officially" start attending classes the next day.

All students take the same classes - math, rhetoric and orientation classes for a total of seven credit hours.

Students are grouped in four sections: Groups A, B

Students attend classes Monday thru Thursday and ABP has a weekly meeting on Friday mornings. The meetings are intended to give students an opportunity to discuss their experiences and allow the ABP staff to follow up on how well students are doing, address any issues/concerns, and the distribute a weekly stipend.

All ABP students are required to attend math tutoring every week. The math tutors meet with each student individually and hold review sessions weekly.

Students who intend to major in Engineering or Computer Science will take an additional one credit hour course Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science.

Housing:

ABP students live on-campus at University Park expense-free for the duration of the program (June and July). Students are housed with other ABP students and are supplied with furnished apartments, phone lines and cable. In addition, students are given an $80.00 weekly stipend for groceries and entertainment. Three current Bridge students are hired as Peer Advisors to mentor, plan activities, and oversee any housing issues/concerns.

Activities & Community Outreach:

ABP has several fun activities on-campus (pool parties, barbecues) and at least three off-campus outings (Six Flags, Dallas Summer Musicals, Comet Camp) scheduled each summer. Students are given the opportunity to attend Comet Camp, a campus sponsored three day outing that focuses on developing student leaders. Every Spring, ABP takes a week-long Civil Rights Trip to six cities that are historical sites to the Civil Rights Movement. The trip is planned to enhance students' cultural as well as educational views.ABP students also volunteer their time at various organizations including The North Texas Food Bank and Buckner's Children's Home.

ABP Students' Feedback:

How has ABP helped you?
¨ "ABP has helped me with my classes by providing tutors and it also helped me get adjusted to college life." Chris Battle (ABP Graduate, Business Administration)
¨ "Coming to ABP in the summer helped ease the worry of freshman year. I was able to take classes,
earn hours and live on-campus all with the guidance of ABP staff." Toni Lee Sicher (ABP Graduate, Psychology)

As an ABP student, what has been the greatest benefit?
¨ "The greatest benefit of being an ABP student is having tutors and people to turn to anytime you need help or have a problem." Natalie Albright (ABP Graduate, Biology)

Would you recommend ABP to high school seniors planning to go to college?
¨ "Yes, because you get to meet students before classes start in the Fall and you're not overwhelmed with the classes and independence from high school." Brenda Correa (ABP Graduate, Psychology)
¨ "Definitely, because one you're in the ABP, you're like part of a family and you'd want more people to know about it!" Lisa Nguyen (ABP Graduate, Biology)

Use one word to describe ABP to prospective students.
¨ "Rewarding" Jamie Feltus (ABP Graduate, Business)
¨ "Beneficial" Kamesha Jacques (ABP Graduate, Interdisciplinary Studies)
¨ "Challenging" Kathy Nguyen (ABP Graduate, Biology)

Awards:

The Academic Bridge Program Receives

Tech Titans of the Future Award

The Metroplex Technology Business Council presented the “Tech Titan of the Future Award” university level, to the Academic Bridge Program on Friday, August 18, 2006 at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas.  The Tech Titans of the Future Award “recognizes educational programs designed to address the gap in the student pipeline in technology and/or educational programs between technology businesses and educational institutions whose purpose is to provide qualified graduates to the technology industry.”

ABP was founded seven years ago by Dr. George W. Fair, Dean, School of Interdisciplinary Studies . The Academic Bridge Program seeks to attract, support, and retain students with high class rankings who graduate from Dallas area high schools, which are underrepresented at UTD with a special emphasis on students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. 

Other finalists receiving Honorable Mention were:

• Center for Information, Technology, and Management – UTD
• Dallas TeleCollege – Dallas County Community Colleges
• Materials Science and Engineering – University of North Texas
• Project Lead The Way – Arlington Independent School District
• The Science Corner – Richland College
• University Relations Program – University of Texas at Arlington
• Women in Engineering Education Programs – Dallas Society of Women Engineers

ABP Photos:

Click on any photo to view an enlarged version. The file size for the enlarged version is listed below each small photo.

Civil Rights Tour
54K	39K	73K	67K
International Festival		North Texas Food Bank
29K	29K	27K	65K
Dallas Summer Musicals		Six Flags
65K		65K