This summer, Oglethorpe University welcomed a new cohort of students into its Paul Hackett Summer Bridge Program, a weeklong experience designed to help students transition into college life and take the first steps of their Oglethorpe journey.
The program invited a small group of incoming students to campus one week before classes began, giving them the opportunity to learn about college resources, participate in academic success workshops, and build lasting connections with faculty, staff and peers.
Throughout the week, students engaged in activities designed to strengthen their academic skills and prepare them for the challenges of higher education. They met with professors and OU support staff to discuss academic expectations, map out potential pathways for their majors, and learn how to identify and overcome common barriers to success. These intentional conversations allowed students to visualize their academic journeys, creating a roadmap that emphasized persistence and long-term achievement.
Workshops introduced participants to critical resources such as tutoring, academic coaching, and research tools, ensuring they were equipped to take full advantage of Oglethorpe’s support systems from day one. By addressing academic skills like time management, study strategies, and goal-setting early, the program gave students the confidence to enter their first semester with a strong foundation and the assurance that they are not alone in their pursuit of success.
In addition to on-campus activities, participants also engaged in several service projects across Metro Atlanta, working with organizations such as La Amistad and the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association. These experiences not only introduced students to the broader Atlanta community but also fostered bonds among peers as they worked together in meaningful, hands-on ways. For many, the opportunity to give back while connecting with each other proved transformative, reinforcing a sense of purpose and belonging that they will carry into their college careers.
The Summer Bridge Program is one component of the College Success and Student Leadership Program, a comprehensive effort to bolster student retention, persistence, and academic outcomes. The program will deliver a suite of evidence-based interventions that, together, will mitigate attrition and ensure that these student populations, including first-generation and low-income students, have the supports they need to achieve college success.
The program is made possible through generous multi-year grants from The Tull Charitable Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (on behalf of the Hackett/Robitaille Families).
The capacity-building grants have enabled Oglethorpe to create a new staff position on campus: Equity & Care Cohort Success Coordinator. This role, filled by Ian Young, will monitor student progress, coordinate learning support, facilitate co-curricular and career development experiences and foster students’ personal development and social connections.
“The College Success and Student Leadership Program embodies Oglethorpe’s mission by creating an environment where students feel that they belong and are equipped with the tools to achieve their fullest potential,” says Austin Rayford, director of equity & care at Oglethorpe University. “Students who participated now have a strong foundation for long-term success in both their curricular and co-curricular endeavors.”
The program is off to a strong start. This August, the Summer Bridge Program hosted 47 incoming students — and its impact has already been felt.
“Growing up homeschooled, I had limited social experience, so one of my biggest fears coming to college was constantly having to introduce myself and start conversations. The Bridge Program erased that pressure,” said CJ Stallworth McFarland ’29, a first-year politics major. “I know the names of many professors before classes even started; they know mine and a bit about my story. It makes the transition into college life smoother in a way that’s hard to overstate.”
“I have made some amazing friends during the Summer Bridge Program: other students, faculty, and even alumni, which was really cool,” said Niyah Stewart ’29, another first-year politics major. “That, for me, is something I will always remember and cherish. I am so honored to have been a part of this program, and I am looking forward to the opportunities that this program has given me!”
At Oglethorpe, enhancing students’ success, sense of belonging, and meaningful connections is OU’s top strategic priority. The College Success and Student Leadership Program is a powerful extension of the university’s commitment to helping students not only begin their journey but thrive in it.
