Student Bridges is a non-profit, student run agency that works to improve access and success for underrepresented students on the university campus and in our neighboring communities by building partnerships at UMass, with local schools and community organizations, offering college awareness, preparation and success activities, and advocating for enhanced institutional and public policies and practices. We have several goals which include:
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Strategic and sustainable approach to community partnerships
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Comprehensive student-support systems for student success
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Policy in action and advocacy
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Student staff training and professional development
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Program assessment and evaluation
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Dissemination
Visit studentbridgesagency.org for more information about the agency mission, goals, programming and events.
Outcomes
In order to meet this mission, Student Bridges has four integrated components:
Preparatory Mentoring: SB hosts courses and internships that provide UMass students with academic credit to college success mentor participants at partner schools and programs in Amherst, Holyoke and Springfield, MA with a vision hoping to expand even further.
Community Outreach and College Awareness: Student Bridges interns work with student groups, local schools, and community-based organizations to develop and implement college awareness and preparation workshops, trips to UMass, and community-based events.
Advocacy: Student Bridges works with faculty, schools, community organizations, and national and local coalitions to advocate for policies and practices that support college access and success for underrepresented and historically marginalized students.
Retention: Student Bridges collaborates with Success Centers and Registered Student Organizations to provide support and networks for underrepresented students enrolled at UMass Amherst.
"Service-learning is all about relationships. In the process of building those relationships, one is also building a relationship with themselves and the world around them."
Who Can Apply?
Any Five-College student can register for our courses.
Only UMass Amherst students in good academic standing or per arrangement with the Student Bridges director can apply to be a part of Student Bridges.
Application requirements:
To be a student of our course there is no application process. Any student within the Five-College consortium can register for our courses during any Add/Drop period each semester on the UMass student system SPIRE.
To apply to be a part of the student staff team please visit https://studentbridgesagency.org/applications.html for the online application or email @email for more details.
Student Bridges Academic Framework and Mentorship Model
Student Bridges Agency (SB) offers multiple courses taught by the SB Director/Faulty Advisor and one taught by the SB student coordinator(s). These course bridge academic theory and practice and engage undergraduate and graduate students as tutor mentors both in the classroom and within the community through civic engagement and community-based collaborations in cities of Amherst, Holyoke and Springfield.
SRVCLRNG 293: Learning through Community Engagement (Fall Only) 4 credits
Students examine how race, class and a variety of historical forces shape students' access to quality education. We look at issues of racism and inequality in educational systems, and explore how deficit perspectives, standardized testing, the dismantling of affirmative action, and rising costs have affected college access for many minoritized, low-income, first- generation, and students of color.
SRVCLRNG 393: Advanced Community Service-Learning (Spring Only) 4 credits
Students work collaboratively with the youth in their community partner sites and apply their understanding of the theoretical frameworks and associated implications learned in the classroom to a selected educational issue in collaboration with the youth/mentees. Together they develop an action project or initiative.
SRVCLRNG 398: Critical Reflection Seminar/Practicum - Ambassador Program (Fall Only) 4 credits
This seminar experience is designed as an interactive and engaged reflective learning experience in which undergraduate, graduate and high school students meet as a learning community for two semesters at UMass Amherst and at the High School partner site.
SRVCLRNG 298: Peer Mentorship for College Success (Fall & Spring) 2 credits
This course is taught by two SB coordinators and advised by SB Director/Faculty Advisor. The course is designed for paired Juniors and Seniors with First year and/or transfer students who identify as underrepresented and/or first-generation in a mentorship partnership. The aim of the course is to provide sustainable and culturally responsive mentorship for undergraduate students of the UMass campus community as a strategy for increasing persistence and educational success for historically underrepresented students.
EDUC 614: College Access and Educational Equity (Spring Only) 3 credits
In partnership with the College of Education, this course is taught by Dr. Yedalis Ruiz, SB Director/Faculty Advisor, and Dr. Chrystal George-Mwangi from the Higher Education department in the College of Education. This course examines critical questions in college access and choice and addresses theories and research related to college preparation, school structures, and inequalities in college access. The course aligns with the mission of Student Bridges and SRVCLRNG 293 course. Undergraduate and graduate students contribute to building strong bonds and mentorship with students in our partner school sites that promote college access and success for first-generation and underrepresented students.