The Bridge Program

Location: Norris Hall 105

Dr. David Floyd, Bridge Program Chairperson

Faculty:
Mr. Kyler Campbell, Dr. David Floyd, Ms. Angela Gravely, Mr. James Hawley, Ms. Kristen Hixon, Mr. Daniel Leach, Ms. Danielle Walters

The Bridge Program is a comprehensive developmental program designed for those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the University and for those who are not yet prepared to enroll in Mathematical Structures (MATH 105) or College Algebra (MATH 110 or MATH 111) and/or English Composition and Rhetoric I (ENGL 111 ). Faculty from the Departments of English and Mathematics offer instruction and review in grammar, composition, critical reading and critical thinking, study and test taking skills, and elementary algebra.

The Bridge Program is guided by the mission:

To help students gain access to one of the baccalaureate programs and,
To equip them with the knowledge, the skills and the resources necessary to successfully earn a degree.

Students in the Bridge Program are accepted to the university under one of the following three classifications:

Full Bridge Program - requires ENGL 099, MATH 099, and GNED 107
English-only Bridge Program - requires ENGL 099 and GNED 107
Math-only Bridge Program - requires MATH 099 and GNED 107

A. Requirements: Students admitted through the Bridge Program may satisfy their ENGL 099 and/or MATH 099 requirements in the following ways.

Pass English 099 and/or Math 099 with a ‘C’ or better during the Fall or Spring semesters (or during Summer Bridge Academy, available to eligible students according to sections B and C of this policy).
Obtain a sufficient score on the placement exam in English and/or Mathematics to be “placed” into English 111 or Math 110/111. Note that the placement exam is for placement purposes only and may not serve as an exit exam; it is not appropriate for that purpose. Students may only attempt the placement exam before the drop/add period ends in the semester they are enrolled for their first attempt in the course.

B. Students may take English 099 and/or Math 099 at CSU during the Fall, Spring and/or Summer semesters under the following guidelines:

Bridge students must complete their required ENGL 099 and/or MATH 099 courses within one calendar year from the beginning of their first attempt at the course and are allowed two major-term attempts (Fall and Spring) to complete their Bridge requirements. A third attempt will only be considered under the conditions outlined in part C of this policy. Under no circumstances will a fourth attempt be considered. Withdrawing (with approval) counts as an attempt.
Students accepted as Bridge students must enroll in GNED 107 and at least one of their required ENGL 099 or MATH 099 courses their first semester at the university (unless they successfully completed the course in the Summer Bridge Academy). Full Bridge students that attempt just one of their required 099 classes their first semester must enroll in their other required 099 class the next semester. Students accepted as Bridge students may not withdraw from their required Bridge courses. Any exceptions to this policy will only be granted with express written permission of the Chair of the Bridge Program.

C. Bridge Probation, Bridge Suspension, and Readmission are determined based on the following guidelines:

Bridge Probation: Those Bridge students who fail to successfully complete ENGL 099 or MATH 099 after one attempt (either by earning a final grade below a ‘C’ or by withdrawing with approval) will be placed on Bridge Probation. The student will receive a warning letter from the Registrar’s office that the student in question has only one remaining major term (Fall or Spring) to fulfill his or her admissions requirements. If eligible, students may also fulfill the requirement during the Summer Bridge Academy. Exception: Those students whose first attempt at ENGL 099 or MATH 099 occurs in the Summer Bridge Academy will not receive Bridge Probation status for failing or withdrawing in the summer.
Bridge Program Suspension: Students who are unsuccessful in at least one of their 099 required courses after two major term (Fall and Spring) attempts, or after one calendar year from first attempting the course, will be placed on Bridge Program suspension. Exception: Students with a 1.8 GPA or better (099 courses included) at CSU, who have not attempted the course in the Summer Bridge Academy and have not exceeded one calendar year from first attempting the course, will be invited to take the 099 course for a third time during the Summer Bridge Academy at CSU before being Bridge suspended from the university.
Readmission after Suspension: Students with a 1.8 GPA or better (099 courses included) at CSU may gain readmission to CSU by simply completing a course deemed equivalent to the appropriate 099 course with a grade of ‘C’ or better. The Chair of the Bridge Program must pre-approve the equivalent course with assistance from the appropriate (English or Math) coordinator. Students with a GPA below 1.8 (099 courses included) at CSU will not be eligible to return as above. These students may reapply for admission to the university once they have met the requirements for transfer student admission as specified in the academic catalog: http://catalog.csuniv.edu/index.php

To best equip Bridge students with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to complete the Bridge Program, the following restrictions and policies are also in place:

Passing English 099 and/or Math 099 classes is the critical determiner in any successful progression from the Bridge Program to the regular curriculum. Therefore, to ensure that students are adequately prepared to handle the academic material on the next level, students must pass their ENGL 099 and MATH 099 classes with a grade of “C” or better. These courses count for institutional credit but do not count toward any degree program or graduation requirement. Specifically, MATH 099 and ENGL 099 credit hours are not included when the Registrar’s Office checks for the minimum hours required for graduation. Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation, beyond the 099 course level. Other graduation requirements apply (see “Graduation Information and Requirements” in this catalog).
All students accepted to the university as Bridge students may enroll in no more than 17 credit hours, including mandatory Bridge courses in each semester that they are enrolled in the Bridge Program.
All Bridge students are assigned a Bridge advisor and must meet with that advisor THREE times during the semester.
All students enrolled in Bridge courses should note the attendance policy for these courses (see also Attendance in this catalog). A student will receive a grade of “FA” (failure for absences) upon accumulating the following absences:

Bridge students will be penalized if they miss more than 15% of class meetings. A student will receive a grade of “FA” (failure for absences) upon accumulating the following absences in a Fall/Spring semester 14-week session:

Classes meeting five hours per week	11
Classes meeting four times per week	9
Classes meeting three times per week	7
Classes meeting two times per week	5
Classes meeting one time per week	3

Grade of “FA” (failure for absences) upon accumulating the following absences in a Summer semester 7-week session:

Classes meeting five hours per week	6
Classes meeting four times per week	5
Classes meeting three times per week	4
Classes meeting two times per week	3
Classes meeting one time per week	2

The Bridge Program Course Descriptions

MATH 099 - Beginning Algebra

(4 hour(s)) Prerequisites: Admission to CSU through the Bridge Program or appropriate score on the MATH Placement Exam. A course in basic algebra skills for students who are deemed at risk in the area of Mathematics. Topics include properties of the real numbers; fundamental operations with linear expressions, solutions of linear equations and inequalities; operations on polynomial expressions, including polynomial division; graphing linear equations on the Cartesian Coordinate system; functions; factoring of quadratic and other polynomial expressions; solving quadratic equations; operations on rational and radical expressions; solving rational and radical equations. Course is required of students accepted Into the Bridge program. Class meets 4 lecture hours and a (minimum of one) 30-minute individual tutoring appointment every week. Students must pass the course with a ‘C’ or better before matriculating from the Bridge Program and/or to any other Mathematics course. This course may not be attempted more than twice. Students receive institutional credit only. This course cannot be challenged. Note: 099 courses will be calculated in student GPAs but will not be included in the earned hours toward graduation (CSU students typically need 120 hours for graduation).

ENGL 099 - Fundamentals of Writing and Mechanics

(4 hour(s)) Prerequisite: Admission to CSU through the Bridge Program or appropriate score on the English Placement Exam. For students who are deemed at risk in these areas of English, the course concentrates on development of practical writing skills, focusing on the writing process in development of essays, understanding of rhetorical strategies, and conventions of grammar and usage. This course emphasizes college level composition and is intended to facilitate transition into English 111. Minimum grade of “C” or better before matriculating from the Bridge program and/or to any other English course. This course may not be attempted more than twice. Students receive institutional credit only. This course may not be challenged. Note: 099 courses will be calculated in student GPAs but will not be included in the earned hours toward graduation (CSU students typically need 120 hours for graduation).

GNED 107 - College Reading and Study Skills for the Christian College

(3 hour(s)) Prerequisite: Freshman Bridge students only. A course designed to develop the complex reading and study skills essential for successful participation in university curriculum. Focuses on content area reading and study strategies, reading and critical thinking skills. A focus on the nature of learning and the individual’s responsibility to learn. An introduction to the Christian worldview and its application in Christian higher education, with emphasis on critical thinking skills necessary for college-level academic work and for other issues commonly facing college students. General elective credit. This course cannot be challenged. Note: Required for all Bridge students.