National data shows today’s college students are less prepared to succeed in college than those of previous generations, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remote instruction. Administrators say students lack academic and social-emotional preparation, prompting colleges to implement new interventions to get them up to speed.
For years, Mount Saint Mary’s University in California has offered summer bridge programs to students who may be less ready to transition to college, such as first-generation students.
This summer, MSMU is launching a Summer Pathway program designed to give all incoming students a strong start in college life. They complete two college courses for free and are able to network with peers and explore campus before school starts.
“We feel the sooner we can get students involved, the better,” said interim assistant provost Amanda Romero.
How it works: Summer Pathway is a six-week, credit-bearing experience that takes place mid-summer, after orientation in June and before classes begin in August.
During the program, students will complete a summer bridge seminar and an additional introductory course with options in social studies, English, and mathematics.
Students attend classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they attend workshops on managing time, dealing with imposter syndrome or maintaining a sense of well-being.
“We invite the entire campus community to come in and meet our students in person to talk about their careers, offices, how they ended up at Mount, and their hopes and aspirations for the future,” said Elizabeth Sturgeon, interim assistant provost and director of Summer Pathways.
The goal is for students to learn about campus resources and connect with faculty and staff early in their college careers.
The program also takes students on fun excursions throughout Los Angeles, including visits to the Ballet, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Getty Museum.
The experience is free, and students receive a $250 stipend to cover gas and food costs. If they don’t want to commute to campus every day, they can also pay $3,000 to live in the dorms during the six-week program.
Community approach: While many faculty are on eight-month contracts with summer breaks, Sturgeon and Romero said it won’t be difficult to get professors on board and on campus for the project.
“Some of our departments had never participated in a summer pathway program before and had no idea what it was about, but they chose to participate and come down in person to present it to our students,” Sturgeon said.
“It’s important for our core teachers to get in front of their students, and this is a great opportunity,” Romero said.
Returned students have also stepped up to serve as peer mentors for new students.
Leaders say the program has paid off so far, with students hitting the ground running at the start of term.
“It provides a smoother transition,” Romero said. “When starting a new place, a lot of people feel anxious, ‘Where is this, where is that, where do I go?'”
“They know what the resources are, they know where to park, what to order in the cafeteria,” Sturgeon said. “They have a friend group; they have a peer mentor, friends they can connect with. From day one of being a college student, six weeks later they become alumni.”
What’s next: In the summer of 2025, 66 of the 471 new students participated in the Summer Pathway program, taking five different courses. 98.5% of Pathway participants enroll in the fall.
In the future, campus leaders hope to introduce project-based learning into the curriculum, integrating the university’s mission as an institution of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
“We just want to make it bigger and get more classes and students involved,” Sturgeon said.
The overarching dream is to have all freshmen enrolled, but administrators recognize that those who don’t live in the area may face additional barriers to participating in in-person activities due to a lack of housing. Sturgeon and Romero are pushing for more resources to deliver housing and looking for solutions to meet the need for extra funding and staff.
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This article has been updated to correct Mount Saint Mary University’s fall 2025 enrollment totals.
