Educational

Opportunity Program
Summer Bridge
First Year Experience
Summer 2015
RJ (Robert) Bisquera Jr.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 10:00 to 11:30 AM
Office Hours M/W 12PM and by appointment.
mexipino@mail.sfsu.edu

Course Description
This course is designed to assist participants in developing the skills and tools necessary for academic
success. Students will learn about various educational pathways available to them at the college level
and will be exposed to resources to help them succeed. The course will cover topics such as: building
community, campus resources, academic and career skills, financial literacy and student
empowerment. Through action based projects, student presentations, and written reflection, students
will develop The First Year Experience seminar will help prepare Summer Bridge participants to re-
evaluate, re-shape, and re-build attitudes about their own education.

Learning Outcomes: Essential Skills and Knowledge

As a result of this course students should be able to:
Articulate their own purpose for being in college
Articulate their educational objectives
Analyze and interpret factors that affect the performance and success of college students
Evaluate their mental and emotional behavior that contributes or hinders academic success
Fully utilize the resources of EOP (tutoring, advising, workshops) with the goal of academic
success
Build positive academic and social communities

Course Expectations
Students are expected to be:
COMMITTED and COURAGEOUS: Love is an act of courage, not of fear, and is a commitment to
others. It is your duty to love and respect yourself, and others in this class.
ADVOCATES: Be an advocate for yourself, it is important to step up and begin to do this in this
class. It is also critical that you are an advocate for your classmates as well. This means stand
up for what you believe in, speak your truth, and stand together and support one another.
REAL: Bring your realest and most honest self to class everyday and keep it real. This means to
be true to yourself and be you and do you.
EDUCATORS: You are both a student and teacher in this class. Sharing your stories and
experiences are an important aspect for creating a vibrant learning experience for you, your
classmates, and me.

Course Requirements and Grading Percentages

Attendance and Participation 15%

Each student is expected to keep up with course assignments and be present in class everyday. A willingness to
contribute ideas and experiences, and openness to new perspectives is important to building community.

C.A.R.E. Journal 25%

Each student is required write weekly journal entries that will align with course content and themes. Students
must discuss their progress in the course and reflect on their growth as students and discuss how they will apply
what they learned in their first years of college.

Instructor Check-in 15%

Students will be expected to meet with the instructor twice during the course of the 8-weeks in the Summer
Bridge Course. There are no expected meeting topics; the point of the meeting is to provide students an
opportunity to develop stronger relationships with each other and the instructor. Meeting times will be
determined the first and second week of class.

Resume 10%

Students will have the opportunity to develop a resume that highlights their volunteer/work experiences and
skills they obtain. This exercise will allow students to be prepared to apply for job/internship opportunities for
students who are seeking positions when they enter college.

Personal Statement (Scholarship Essay) 10%

Having a strong personal statement is critical for entering college students. A strong personal statement opens
doors to applying for scholarships and other applications that require one. Students will be expected to write a
personal statement to be used for a scholarship that the student qualifies for before their first semester begins.

Mini In-Class Assignments
Student Spotlight Presentations 10%

Student Spotlight presentations are a 5-8 minute introduction to who you are. Key components of the
presentations must include a persons highs and lows in their lifetime. It begins from birth and pinpoints 5
moments in your lived experiences that make you who you are, and 3 moments that are personal facts about
yourself. Be creative!

Vision Board 10%

A vision board is an exercise that puts your thoughts, hopes, and dreams in artist form. It is a visual
representation of your college career and outlines goals that you have of yourself.

Letter to Future Self 5%


Students will write a letter to themselves. This will outline personal and/or academic short-term and long-term
goals that the student expects to accomplish. And will outline an action plan to accomplish their goals. These
letters will be mailed to students in one year.

Course Outline

Themes/Topics

Date(s)
Week 1 Building Community

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Establishing Community Agreements

What is your background (ethnic, where you grew up, family, etc.)
Developing our Classroom Culture

Week 2 Financial Literacy & Jobs

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Understanding how to apply and look for scholarships

Understanding financial aid (i.e. scholarships vs. grants, loans, FAFSA,

Week 4 GPA & GATEWAY (Student Center)

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Developing narratives of success (i.e. academic, personal, social)

Understanding GPA/Academic Probation, factors that affect your
academic performance

Week 5 Campus Resources

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Student Health in College

Student Health Services
Mindfulness and Healing

Getting involved on campus: student organizations,

fraternities/sororities
Service-learning (Working in the community and gaining experience)

Week 7 Self Care & Well-Being

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Student Health in College

Student Health Services
Mindfulness and Healing
Developing health relationships with peers, family, and instructors

Week 8 Study Skills and College Goals

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C.A.R.E.
Journal 3 Due

C.A.R.E.
Journal 5 Due

C.A.R.E.
Journal 6 Due

Vision Board
Letter to Future Self

Time Management (Over-coming procrastination)

Effective note taking strategies
Developing S.M.A.R.T Goals

C.A.R.E.
Journal 2 Due
Persona Statement

C.A.R.E.
Journal 4 Due

Week 6 Campus Life and Community Work

Student Spotlight
Presentations

C.A.R.E.
Journal 1 Due
Resume

Managing a Budget
Assessing Needs vs. Wants
Where to find student employment?
Understanding Work Study

Week 3 Understanding Financial Aid & Scholarships
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Assignments