UO Summer Bridge
September 15 - September 25, 2024Applications for Summer Bridge 2024 will open late May-early June. Interested in applying? Fill out our interest form by clicking below!
Dive in to your first year
Summer Bridge gives first-year students the opportunity to move in early and attend a program designed to jumpstart a successful first year at the UO – all at no cost.
Sharpen your academic skills, connect with resources and opportunities aligned to your interests, make new friends, and get settled on campus before the rest of students arrive.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible to participate, you must:
- Be an incoming first-year student at the UO
- Have graduated from high school in 2020 or later
Summer Bridge is funded by Strong Start with the goal of smoothing the transition to college for students whose high school preparation was disrupted by the pandemic. Priority will be given to students from underserved communities disproportionately impacted by COVID.
Explore the programs and learn what all Summer Bridge participants can expect over the course of the program.
Catalyst
The Catalyst Summer Bridge program offers a hands-on experience for incoming undergraduate students broadly interested in the chemical sciences.
Chemistry is often referred to as the ‘central science’ because of its role in connecting the physical sciences with the life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and applied sciences such as medicine and engineering. In this program, students will take part in immersive workshops to learn basic chemistry concepts, and to make connections of how these skills can be used in topics ranging from drug discovery to sustainability to nanotechnology. Students will have a chance to build community with fellow UO students and future mentors with similar interests. Overall, the program aims to catalyze a passion for the chemical sciences and make the transition to university life easier.
Catalyst Summer Bridge participants will have priority registration for The Secrets to Success in STEM FIG.
Business
The Business Summer Bridge program offers a hands-on experience for incoming undergraduate business administration and accounting degree seekers.
Aimed at setting up first-year business students for success, the program connects participants to all the opportunities and resources the Lundquist College of Business has to offer. Participants will gain insight for succeeding in BA 101 and other introductory major courses, helping students’ dust off their math skills and learn effective study strategies. Students will get a head-start with career development, explore interests in business and related career pathways, and begin to grow a campus and professional network in and outside Eugene. Program highlights include career and academic planning workshops, and site visits to Eugene area companies.
Business Summer Bridge participants will be automatically enrolled in Bridge to Flight School.
North Star
The North Star Summer program offers a hands-on experience for incoming undergraduate students broadly interested in physics and technology.
Centered around the exciting world of astronomy and telescope engineering, students will embark on an immersive journey, constructing their very own robotic telescopes capable of tracking stars in the expansive night sky. As part of a weekend adventure, they will visit the renowned Pine Mountain Observatory, putting their creations to the test while capturing breathtaking images of celestial wonders. Through engaging lessons on the physics and engineering behind modern telescopes and the cosmos, the program promises to ignite a lifelong passion for the mysteries of the universe.
North Star Summer Bridge participants will be connected to North Start Project, a community for support through the year!
What to Expect
Summer Bridge runs from September 15 to September 25, 2024, right before UO’s new student Week of Welcome. Participants will move-in early to their assigned residence hall room for the year and participate in program activities.
Expect your days to be jam packed from morning to evening with:
- hands-on academic sessions
- academic and career advising sessions
- workshops on student leadership and undergraduate research
- social activities to meet your peers and explore campus
- explore Eugene with evening and weekend activities
Partner Programs
USP
The 2024-25 incoming Undergraduate Support Program (USP) cohort will participate in a 2-day Summer Bridge program starting on September 23rd, 2024. This program prepares incoming USP students for their Fall term FIG classes and offers a chance to meet other students in the program, meet 1:1 with USP advisors, and refresh academic skills before classes begin. Highlights of the program include on-campus workshops, off-campus excursions, and other fun social activities. For more information on USP, visit their website.
Engage & Connect
PathwayOregon and the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center will welcome invited students to campus through the 2-day Engage & Connect program. This program will begin on September 23rd, 2024, and will focus on introductions to UO, 1:1 meetings with advisors and program coordinators, and exploring Eugene and the UO. Engage & Connect will assist students with planning their Week of Welcome experience, which will begin as soon as Summer Bridge ends.
To apply, check your uoregon.edu email address for instructions on how to fill out the application.
New Student Fall Retreat
The Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence’s (CMAE) New Student Fall Retreat (NSFR) is designed for incoming first year and transfer students from underrepresented backgrounds. The NSFR runs from September 22nd-25th, and is open to students living on or off-campus. Led by the Student Leadership Team (SLT), the program creates an inviting space for new students to create friendships, explore campus resources and services while engaging with faculty, advisors, and staff members. The NSFR’s goal is to help students build community and knowledge for a smoother college transition.
For more information on NSFR, visit their website.
Program Components
- Priority Move-In
Skip the move-in day lines and let us cover the cost of an early move in to your residence hall. Catalyst, Business, & North Star will move in on September 15th, 2024, New Student Fall Retreat will move in on September 22nd, 2024, and Engage & Connect will move in on September 23rd, 2024. - Class Previews
Learn what a lecture at the UO is like with class previews. Meet professors, learn what tests are like, and see where your classes are. - Major/Career Connections
Meet with advisors and faculty, learn about major options, undergraduate research, student leadership, and career paths. - Academic Sessions
Join us for refresher workshops on academic skills and strategies aligned to your courses for Fall. - Campus Activities
We have fun social activities planned for Summer Bridge to help you build community, meet your peers, and explore campus. - Excursions
We love the UO campus, but we want to show off Eugene, too! Join us for excursions to local businesses, the Eugene Saturday Market, and more. - First-Year Support
Although Summer Bridge only lasts for a few days, , we’re here for you year-round. We’ll be offering advising, tutoring, study groups, and workshops to support your success and keep you connected.
Eligibility
Catalyst, Business, and North Star programs will soon be accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort. USP students will receive the details of their program via email, and Engage & Connect students will be contacted by PathwayOregon, the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE), or the Lylle Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center.
To be eligible for Catalyst, Business, or North Star programs, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be a first-year student at the UO beginning Fall 2024
- Submit a completed Summer Bridge application by the priority deadline (priority deadline will be announced when the application goes live).
This program is designed to help students transition to the University of Oregon, and priority is given to students who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Further priority is given to students who identify as members of historically underrepresented populations, or who have participated in AVID, ASPIRE, GEAR UP, or similar programs. See Priority Selection for further information on priority criteria by program.
**Visit the “Partner Programs” portion of this site to view eligability requirements for USP, Engage and Connect, and New Student Fall Retreat**
Priority Selection
All of our programs give priority to students who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, identify as members of historically underrepresented populations, or have participated in AVID, ASPIRE, GEAR UP, or similar programs. However, each program has further priority criteria for selection:
Catalyst: Students who have a science major or minor. Specifically those who are enrolled in CH 224H/221/111 for the Fall term, or who plan to be enrolled in during their first year.
Business: Business majors enrolled in BA 101 for the Fall term. Further priority is given to students living in the Business Academic Residential Community (BizArc) who are enrolled in BA 101 for the Fall Term.
North Star: Students who will be majoring in phyics, computer science, or who are interested in science and technology.
All students are encouraged to apply, even if you do not meet the priority criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to any of the five programs?
Applications for Catalyst, Business, and North Star, and our partner Program, New Student Fall Retreat, will be available in late May/early June. USP and Engage & Connect programs will be reaching out to invite students to participate. For questions about Catalyst, Business, North Star, USP, or Engage and Connect, please contact summerbridge@uoregon.edu. For questions about New Student Fall Retreat, please contact cmae@uoregon.edu.
When is Summer Bridge?
Catalyst, Business, and North Star all begin on Sunday, September 15th, and run to Tuesday, September 24th, or the start of Week of Welcome. Engage & Connect begins on Monday, September 23rd, and runs to Wednesday, September 25th. New Student Fall Retreat begins on Sunday, September 22nd. If you’re living on-campus for Fall, you will move in to your residence hall on the first day of your program.
Will I have to move again before the start of Fall term?
For early move-in with Summer Bridge, you’re moving into the same room that you’ll be assigned to for the 2024-25 academic year. You’ll be all moved in before the rest of campus arrives!
Can I apply if I won’t be moving into a residence hall?
YES! Students living in the residence halls or those that have approved exemptions can apply to participate in the Summer Bridge program. If you are not living on-campus, it is expected that you’ll be able to attend all days of your program. Please keep this in mind for commuting times and distances.
What kind of activities are planned for Summer Bridge?
We have so many activities planned for Summer Bridge! During the day, you might share a meal with your group, take a tour of one of our campus resources, sit in on a workshop, or work on a case study. Or, maybe you’ll visit Eugene’s famous Saturday Market, ride bikes by the Willamette River, take a hike in Mount Pisgah, create something new in our Craft Center, or stay in with a movie night (and snacks!). We want this to be a helpful and informative program, and a fun and engaging one, too.
What should I bring?
Each room will come furnished with a bed, wardrobe, dresser, desk, chair, and waste and recycling bins. For a more comprehensive list of what to bring and what not to bring when moving in to the residence halls, please visit this page put together by University Housing.
Questions? Contact Us!
Send us an email at summerbridge@uoregon.edu or call us at 541-346-3226.