Summer 2025

• Head start on Fall Semester and academic journey
• Connect with peers and BRIDGE alumni
• Build resume and professional development skills
• Earn up to 3000 toward fee bill — completing summer requirements

Year 1: Fall Semester

• BRIDGE Class: first year experience course for BRIDGE students
• Earn 1 credit in the BRIDGE class
• Build time management skills
• Connect with a mentor in Mentor-Mentee program
  • Peer – Peer
  • Peer – Faculty
  • Peer – Industry
• Join an engineering student organization

Additional Opportunities

• 1 credit : Research Orientation Class
• Industry visits / tours Access to BRIDGE Coaches
• Acess to student organizations
• Access to mentors (alum, industry, faculty)
• Academic year Bus trips to NYC and Boston
• Volunteer & Outreach for K-12 programs
  • Multiply your Options (MYO)
  • Engineer Your Future (EYF)
  • Sisters in STEM (SiS)
  • Pre-Engineering Program (PEP)

Scholarship Opportunities

Students are eligible for a range of scholarships after successfully completing the BRIDGE program. These awards recognize not only academic achievements, but positive attitude, dedication, and the support you extend to your peers throughout the program. 

Internship Opportunities

Students are eligible for a range of internship positions after successfully completing the BRIDGE program. These opportunities with top industries provide hands-on experiences and valuable insights in the field.

Networking Opportunities

Forge meaningful connections with BRIDGE Alumni and Industry Professionals, expanding your circle and opening doors to collaboration.

Public Speaking

Hone your ability to communicate effectively, gain the confidence to address and present your ideas with clarity and impact.

Career Advancement Resources

Students have access to a wealth of resources, workshops, career development tools designed to propel your field of study and career forward.

Leadership Skills

Cultivate leadership skills essential for success in today’s dynamic world.

Program Benefits

• Instruction on college level chemistry, math, and computer science
• Exposure to the College of Engineering facilities and laboratories
• Visits to engineering companies and tours of industry
• Social, community, recreational, and cultural activities
• Study skills workshops and structured group study sessions
• University housing, weekly meals (excluding weekends), tuition, and books
• Engineering career seminars presented by faculty / professional engineers
• Hours of tutoring from BRIDGE alumni

Group Study Sessions

Students will attend group study sessions in the evenings. These sessions are designed to give students time to work with classmates and our tutors on their homework problems, and to practice potential test and exam questions. Students will strengthen group problem solving skills as they learn to work as part of a team.

Industry Tours

As participants in the BRIDGE program, students will travel off campus to a variety of engineering companies throughout the state of Connecticut. In past years, corporate visits have included:

• Covidien
• Electric Boat
• Alston Power
• Pratt and Whitney
• Olin
• Unilever
• Sikorsky
• Timken
• CT Department of Transportation
• Cigna
• and more…

Students will explore the world of work by actually seeing engineers apply their academics to the real world. During the visits students will see peer mentors and role models in the field of engineering while exploring the variety of career opportunities within engineering. These are professional visits so students will be required to wear suits/business attire.

General Information

Once we have received the BRIDGE registration, parental consent, and health forms, you will be mailed a confirmation letter and the following information:

• BRIDGE Orientation and Check-in Day
• Rules and Regulations
• Checklist of Items to Bring

Meals/Spending Money

All program Participants will eat in assigned cafes or dining halls Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served by us. Dining hours are as follows:

• Breakfast: 7AM – 9AM
• Lunch: 11AM – 1PM
• Dinner: 5PM – 7PM

Books/Supplies

The Vergnano Institute for Impact will provide textbooks for summer use, free of charge. Students will need:

• Notebooks
• Loose leaf paper
• Pens
• Pencils
• Calculators

Students will have access to the Engineering Computer Learning Center, so laptops are not required for the program. However, you may bring your own laptop for personal use.

Conference Sessions

All participants will have at least one scheduled meeting with the Director during the course of the BRIDGE program to discuss academic performance and any other concerns. These sessions are scheduled during free time periods.

Undergraduate Orientation

ALL students who confirm participation for the summer BRIDGE program MUST attend a University of Connecticut Undergraduate Orientation Session.***

Sessions are held from late May to early July. During orientation, new students have the chance to become familiar with the UConn campus. ID photos and placement tests for mathematics and English are given during this time. You will receive information regarding orientation from the Office of Orientation Services one you have paid your room deposit/acceptance fee. Please notify the Vergnano Institute of Impact once you have received the confirmation of your orientation date.

Residential Life/Housing

BRIDGE participants will be housed in an on-campus residence hall and will be assigned a roommate. Each resident will pay a $100.00 room key deposit which will be refunded upon receipt of returned assigned keys.

Students are not allowed to have overnight guests at all during the program.

The University reserves the right for authorized representatives of the Division of Student Affairs and Services, Facilities Management, and Fire Department to enter students’ rooms to determine occupancy and to inspect rooms for healthy and safety reasons. You and your roommate share joint responsibility for what is in your room. Each floor is assigned a Residential Assistant (RA) who is responsible for needs of the residents.

Mandatory Health Insurance

All students are required to have some form of health insurance that provides coverage for accidents and/or illness. Students not covered by a personal or parental insurance policy are advised to purchase Supplemental Student Health Insurance until university insurance plan takes affect at the start of the first semester. Supplement insurance is available by contacting the Bailey Agency at (203) 446-8255.