Summer Bridge Programs

WCU Currently has five Summer Bridge Programs: 

• The Academic Success Program (ASP) is a conditional admission program in that students who are invited MUST successfully complete the 5-week summer bridge program in order to attend the fall. The program focuses on building academic skills and utilizing campus resources. Students also recieve support through the fall semester with an additional transitions course (USI 131 - Thriving in College). Students must be admitted as ASP and cannot opt into this program. 
• Catamount Gap is for any student, regardless of major or interest! This program focuses on transitioning to WCU. Students can take any of our offered courses along with a transitions course taught by WCU staff members who specialize in helping students. 
• The Honors Learning Community is for admitted honors students who attend the summer bridge program. This program allows students to earn honors credits in one of their courses and focuses on scholarship. Students must be admitted as Honors and cannot opt into this program. 
• Summer WHEE Teach is a learning community for students interested in the field of education. Students take EDCI 191 and a transitions course taught by faculty in the College of Education. Students do not have to be education majors to participate! 
• STEM Scholars is designed for students who are in science, technology, engineering, or math majors. Depending on their placement, students will take MATH 130 (and possibly MATH 100) and a transitions course taught by a staff member closely associated with STEM majors. This program is recommended for any student in a major that requires Calculus (MATH 153). 

May 1, 2024: Claim your seat by submitting your enrollment deposit and the Summer Bridge application 
(ASP students do not need to submit an application: your seat is held by your deposit)
May 30, 2024: Complete pre-registration, orientation registration and payment, and submit immunization forms
June 24, 2024: Final transcripts must be recieved by this date

Move-in: Wednesday, June 19, 2024
WCU Orientation: Thursday and Friday, June 20-21, 2024
Summer Bridge Session with Students and Families: Friday afternoon, June 21, 2024
Summer Bridge Orientation: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Classes Begin: Monday, June 24, 2024
Classes End: Friday, July 26, 2024
Closing Ceremony and Move-out: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Class #1: USI 130 (The University Experience) or USI 101 (Honors Forum)

Introduction to the univeristy and to higher education. Discussion of issues involved in the transition from high school to college like time management, brain-based study techniques, etc. Overall emphasis on academic and career planning and personal development. 

Classes #2 and #3:

Students choose their preferences and are enrolled in 2 of the following:

• ART 104: Introduction to Visual Arts
• COMM 201: Foundations of Communication
• EDCI 190: Teachers, Schools and Society
• ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric
• ENGL 190: Freshman Seminar in Literature
• GEOL 141: Earth History and Prehistoric Life
• HEAL 111: Stress Management
• MATH 130: Precalculus I (and MATH 100: Precalculus I Support, depending on placement)
• PSY 150: General Psychology

Offerings are subject to change prior to the start of the Summer Bridge Programs. 

Class Size: Summer Bridge classes are small, approximately 20 to no more than 25 students per course section, so that students receive personal attention from their instructors. 

Study Hall: In addition to the coursework above, students are required to attend study hall sessions throughout the week. 

Catamount Basics: Once a week, we host a required full-group session with updates and reminders about the upcoming week and to discuss important lessons about transitioning to college. 

Case Management Meetings: Summer Bridge staff meets weekly with instructors to discuss student progress and concerns to allow for appropriate interventions or to celebrate success!

Peer Academic Leader: In addition to staff and faculty support, students are also assigned a Peer Academic Leader (PAL), an upperclassman student who will work with students on their academic and social transition to college. Students are required to meet with their PAL at least once a week and will join a group chat to recieve reminders about class and events! 

Summer costs include tuition, fees, room, board, and all activities. 

*This table serves as an estimation of the 2023 Summer Bridge Programs. Estimated cost of the 2024 programs will not be announced until April 2024. Actual cost is affected by many factors and is not final until posted to students' accounts. Single rooms are available for additional costs, but are limited. Contact Residential Living for more information. 

An additional fee for Student Health Insurance will be added if a student does not complete their insurance waiver. The amount for summer coverage is yet to be determined, but will be added to the student's bill and removed if a student submits a health insurance waiver for the year. 

Housing and Tuition Deposits ($300 total) will be deducted from the total summer charges. 

Note: students only need to pay one set of deposits for the summer and fall terms. Deposits are non-refundable. 

Orientation charges for students and parents must be paid prior to attending orientation. More information about Orientation will be sent in April. 

The University reserves the right to alter any changes without prior notice upon direction from the appropriate governing authorities. 

Students participating in the Summer Bridge Programs are eligible to apply for federal and state financial aid to cover costs of the program. Students interested in financial aid for the summer must complete the FAFSA for 2023-2024 (this is the PRIOR year than what's required for fall financial aid). Students may apply for summer FAFSA now. Questions about financial aid should be addressed to the Financial Aid Office at 828.227.7290 or finaid@wcu.edu. 

For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.