Academic Year One
The Bridges program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is designed for minority students that are planning to major in the sciences and that are interested in or might be interested in a career in biomedical research and related fields. The applicant must have a 2.50 GPA at the time of application, should be a member of a historically underrepresented racial or ethnic group such as American
Indians/ Native Alaskans/ Aleuts, African Americans, Mexican Americans/ Chicano(a)s, Latino(a)s and
Native Polynesians (Hawaiians, Samoans, Guamanians) and must be a citizen or permanent resident of the
United States.
The Bridges program is a collaboration between UCLA and Pierce and Valley Colleges. The Bridges program is a two year program that will prepare you to be better science students and improve your opportunity to transfer to UCLA or other universities. Bridges will provide counseling; workshops on study skills, academic planning, time management, etc.; mentoring; research seminars and coursework here at
Pierce College to help you achieve this goal. The program activities will also include interactions with students and former students who have successfully transferred and entered careers in science as well as visits to UCLA. Students accepted to the program are expected to be committed to participate in all aspects of the program.
The appropriate time to apply for the Bridges program is two years before your expected transfer date. (If applying in fall 2012, for example, you would be transferring fall 2014 or spring 2015.) You should have successfully completed Chemistry 60 and be planning to enroll in Chemistry 101 and Biology 6 or 7 when applying for the program. Those students further along in their science classes are also welcome to apply. Once accepted, students will become part of our learning community and be required to participate in a series of Pathways to Biomedical Sciences (PBS) activities. Students that complete these activities are then eligible to apply to go to UCLA during Summer Two for an independent research experience through the Bridges Summer Undergraduate Research Program ( BriSURP ) .
The program will provide a supportive environment in which you will be able to meet and learn from like minded students who have similar goals and aspirations as you. Your mentors, Professors Goodman and
Koller, have taught science students at Pierce for many years and will help to guide you through the challenges of the educational system. You will also make valuable contacts who can help you move along in your education. In addition the program is free - all it requires is your willingness and enthusiasm!
Fill out an application and send it in along with copies of your college transcripts. Complete instructions will appear on the application. Applications can be obtained from Julia Tossetti at JTo80@aol.com
.
Contact us to make an appointment with a STEM counselor to create an academic plan and discuss various career options. Also make use of the Chemistry and Biology peer tutoring site open every weekday in CFS
2032 and the other student success workshops taking place through the Center for Academic Success. http://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/academic_success/Learning Center.
For more information please contact:
Professor Izzy Goodman goodmaii@piercecollege.edu
office CFS 1041
Professor Lyn Koller kollerlm@piercecollege.edu
office CFS 1042