Broadening Participation: Engaging Academically At-Risk Freshman in Undergraduate Research

Abstract

Collegiate Bridge (CB) is a one-year academic support program that provides small classes and a structured introduction to the university to first-year students. Participants are admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire through the CB program because they demonstrate the potential to succeed but may need additional support as they transition to college. All participants are either first-generation college students and/or students of color and are considered academically at-risk at the point of admission due to relatively low ACT scores (average composite ACT: 19) and high-school class ranks (average rank in class: 61st percentile). There are many facets to the CB program including out-of-class activities and events, course tutoring, and academic coaching; however, this article is focused on the Collegiate Bridge Research Experience (CBRE), a course-based introduction to undergraduate research offered to students in the CB program. The research-related content is embedded within the larger context of two required study-skills courses and occurs over the course of two sequential semesters.