Building a Bridge to Success at Carolina

February 15, 2023

Students in the Summer Bridge program pose for a portrait with Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. (Photo by Johnny Andrews)

Summer Bridge is a six-week transition program that is designed to ease participants’ personal and academic transition from high school to Carolina. The program is open to all admitted incoming first-year students from North Carolina and eases the Tar Heels into their new surroundings ahead of the bustle of the academic year. Academic enrichment, community building and co-curricular and experiential learning activities such as tutoring and study sessions outside of the classroom help new Tar Heels navigate college-level courses.

“I wanted to immerse myself in the college atmosphere as quickly as possible,” said Tyler Coffee ’26. “We have little sessions each and every day with a different department, and they’ll tell us about their program, what’s going on, what they do in that building and the different resources that they have. It’s given us a way to get acclimated.”

The program provides summer stipends for the students and covers housing and tuition for six credit hours. It also helps participants make connections and establish a social network on campus. Arts and Sciences Foundation Board of Directors member Jason Shroff ’02 and his wife, Amy Shroff ’02, made a significant commitment during the campaign to endow the program, ensuring it will always be a fixture on campus and will provide countless transformative experiences for young Tar Heels.