The Bridge: An evaluation of a university retention program for high-risk students

This study evaluated a university-based academic retention program called the Bridge for entering freshmen at high-risk for college drop out. Seventy-eight Bridge students participated in an intensive 5-week summer remedial program and one of two 9-week fall quarter study improvement group programs: a basic study skills program (called the basic program) or a program which combined basic study skills, study self-control behaviors, and social support building (called the enriched program). During their freshman year, the Bridge students were compared to a nonequivalent control group of regularly-admitted freshmen. The results of the study showed that the Bridge students obtained higher fall quarter and cumulative GPAs, higher grades in two out of three English classes, and fewer students placed on academic probation during the fall quarter than the control students. Moreover, in comparison to control students, Bridge students who had participated in the enriched program were less likely to be placed on academic probation during the winter quarter. Bridge students who had participated in the basic program were more likely to remain enrolled during the spring quarter. However, Bridge students did not adopt more productive study habits and attitudes, had few changes in their perceptions of available social support, and generally did not differ in experiences and academic outcomes based upon their participation in the two alternative fall quarter study improvement programs. Explanations for these and other findings, examination of social climate influences on the Bridge students' academic and personal functioning, recommendations for how to improve academic retention programs like the Bridge, and methodological limitations of this study are discussed.