‘A phenomenal success’ Upstate schools celebrate Bridge Program
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or incoming college freshmen, the initial university experience can be daunting. Responsibilities between their final year of high school and the first year of college increase greatly and, for some students, help is nowhere to be found. The Bridge program at Tri-County Technical College was designed, as its name would suggest, to increase access to Clemson University for qualified applicants, while simultaneously assisting student to achieve success. Started in fall 2006 with 231 students, the Bridge Program began as a distinctive invitation-only program for talented students applying to Clemson University. If accepted, the student spends freshman year attending Tri-County with the intention of transferring to Clemson University in the fall of the following year. During the year at Tri-County, a student must take a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours and earn a 2.5 grade point average to successfully transfer. Bridge students are encouraged to live in the Highpointe at Clemson apartments, where upper class resident advisors coordinate social programs and provide academic assistance to Bridge students. Daily transport is provided to the Tri-County and Clemson campuses during the school year. “I have continued to keep close ties to those workBridge students receive ing for the Bridge Program, and I have never seen a information from Clemson representatives at the Get group of people more devoted to student success,” said Sophomore Ready event. Maghan Knight, who participated in the Bridge program from 2009-10. “This program truly equips students with the tools and knowledge to be
“Tri-County values our partnerships with South Carolina’s senior institutions and is always willing to explore opportunities that may arise for future partnership programs so that we can best serve our students.” — Jenni Creamer Bridge Program representative
A Clemson representative offers advice to rising sophmores in the Bridge program.
This year, Tri-County added to its list of bridge and transfer agreements with postsecondary institutions, opening doors for even more eligible students to make easy transitions to four-year colleges and universities.
New partners include: • Anderson University • USC Upstate • Lander University • Limestone College • USC • Erskine CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
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