Bridges Programming
In cooperation with Greenville County School District, 25 high school freshmen are selected in the spring semester to join the Bridges community and participate in programming through their high school graduation. Students are also supported, encouraged and followed through their college graduation.
High-school student programming includes a two-week residential summer program, Bridges Foundations, in which students are immersed in a college experience at Furman University with classes taught by Furman faculty and staff and local seasoned professionals. College planning courses, health and well-being workshops, and small group experiences round out the summer program.
Year-round programming includes monthly college preparation and community building, one-to-one conferencing with Bridges staff, small and whole group college visits, parent and guardian advocacy sessions, SAT/ACT preparation, financial aid sessions, mentoring, growth experiences, participation in Furman events, and professional development.
| Sophomore Experience | Junior Experience | Senior Experience | Graduate Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sophomore Experience
Orientation
|
Junior Experience
Shadowing
|
Senior Experience
FU Staff/Faculty Mentor
|
Graduate Experience
Intensive Pre-College Sessions
|
|
|
Sophomore Experience
Community Building
|
Junior Experience
College Student Mentor
|
Senior Experience
Shadowing / Internship
|
Graduate Experience
College Support
|
|
| Summer Foundations Residential Conference – Two Weeks |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
| Monthly Saturday College – August – April |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
| 1:1 Conferencing – Twice Each Semester |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
| Synchronous Test Preparation – OLLI and Community Partnerships |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
| Ongoing College and Career Counseling – Hybrid with Naviance-PowerSchool |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
| College Visits – 11-15 Campuses Each Year |
Sophomore Experience
Yes
|
Junior Experience
Yes
|
Senior Experience
Yes
|
Graduate Experience
|
Summer Foundations Residential Conference – Bridges Scholars participate in a two-week emersion experience supported by Furman faculty and staff that includes college classes, college counseling, health and wellness sessions, and building healthy communities.
Monthly Saturday College – Once a month Bridges Scholars participate in critical thinking, small groups, and college planning to strengthen their pathways to college success. These sessions are led by Furman faculty and staff, Bridges Success Coaches, and the director and associate director of Bridges to a Brighter Future at Furman.
1:1 Student Conferencing – Bridges staff conference with students four times each year at their high schools to gauge each student’s progress on their individual pathways. Conferencing includes talking through academic, extra-curricular, and community engagement to identify successes and resources to support success.
Synchronous Test Preparation – Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and community volunteers from Greenville are paired with Bridges Scholars who are preparing for the ACT and SAT to address challenges in test-taking skills and content.
Ongoing College and Career Counseling – Bridges Staff communicate weekly and sometimes daily with Bridges Scholars to support students on their pathway to college, including understanding and preparing for FAFSA, financial aid, college selection, career opportunities, and the college application process. Furman Enrollment and Student Life staff provide their hands-on expertise.
College Visits – Bridges Scholars are offered opportunities to visit 11 to 15 college campuses during their sophomore and junior years, and the fall of their senior year. Visiting a variety of campuses allows students to make more informed choices about where to spend their college years.
Graduate Experience – More than 90 percent of Bridges alumni attend college. Bridges staff supports these students through intensive pre-college sessions that set them up for success. Opportunities are offered for alumni to connect throughout the college years through distance conferencing and reunions.
Parent Engagement – Parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, and through the generosity of the United Way of Greenville County, Bridges to a Brighter Future at Furman offers opportunities, resources, and experiences for parents and guardians to share with one another and to learn from experts how to support their children on their individual pathways of college access and success.