The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) has honored 农夫导航
for transformational leadership for the university鈥檚 summer bridge programming and
awarded the university a grant that will help to expand the programming in summer
2025 to include rising high school seniors who are interested in health care careers.
Bellarmine鈥檚 summer programs aim to prepare incoming students for success during their
college experience, said Dr. Jon Blandford, assistant provost.
鈥淏ridge to BU,鈥� which began two years ago, is a free, five-week residential program for conditionally
admitted students in which they take three courses worth seven credit hours in one
of four tracks tailored to specific majors and career goals. Following successful
completion of the program, participants are fully admitted to Bellarmine.
The new non-residential Healthcare Career Summer Bridge Program, created in partnership
with Norton Healthcare and free to participants, will build on the success of Bridge
to BU, Blandford said.
A maximum of 20 rising high school seniors will engage in a one-week orientation and
four weeks of credit-bearing courses, co-curricular/social activities and healthcare
career activities this summer. In the fall, the high school seniors will be dual enrolled
at Bellarmine as Norton Healthcare Scholars鈥攁n existing program that offers undergraduate nursing students up to $45,000 in tuition
assistance in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment in Norton Healthcare
facilities.
鈥淚n addition to giving students an academic leg up, these summer programs create a
connection to our community and to each other,鈥� Blandford said. 鈥淲e know that increases
their chances of succeeding in the fall and beyond and helps them develop 鈥榮oft skills鈥�
such as interpersonal communication and collaboration that employers including Norton
[Healthcare] tell us they especially value in Bellarmine graduates.鈥�
Bellarmine was one of six Kentucky colleges and universities to win a Kentucky Student
Success Award in Transformational Leadership at CPE鈥檚 annual Student Success Summit,
held in Lexington earlier in February.
鈥淚 am so proud of these schools and individuals who exemplify what it means to be
student-centered,鈥� CPE President Aaron Thompson said in a news release. 鈥淜entucky鈥檚
recent gains in enrollment, retention and degree attainment are a testament to the
work campuses are doing on the ground to support students and their unique needs,
whether they be academic, financial or emotional.鈥�
Bridge to BU was created in part in response to the impact that the pandemic had on
high school students鈥� learning and social and emotional development. The program meets
students where they are and provides additional support during the summer and beyond.
Last summer, 32 of 34 students completed the Bridge to BU program, a 94 percent success
rate, and all 32 enrolled at Bellarmine in the fall, Blandford said. Of those, 29
returned in the spring, a remarkable success story for students who would not otherwise
have had access to a Bellarmine education.
鈥淲e are very proud of the positive impact Bridge to BU has had by enabling students
to make a successful transition from high school to college-level work and expectations,鈥�
Blandford said. 鈥淪tudents from Bridge to BU contribute a lot to our community in and
out of the classroom, and Bellarmine is a better university with them here.鈥�
鈥淭his coming summer, we鈥檙e looking forward to building a new bridge specifically for
nursing students, a program that will strengthen our partnership with Norton Healthcare
and help meet a critical workforce need in our city and commonwealth.鈥�
The Healthcare Career Summer Bridge Program will be supported by a $56,300 grant from
CPE, which awarded a total of $529,801 to 12 colleges and universities in January
for summer programs that provide opportunities for prospective college students to
explore health care careers.
As dual-enrolled students in the fall, the high school seniors will take classes on
Bellarmine鈥檚 campus and can participate in job-shadowing experiences within Norton
Healthcare.
鈥淲e are confident this program will inspire Kentucky鈥檚 high school students to pursue
careers in health care and equip them with the academic and professional skills needed
to succeed,鈥� said Dr. Brittany Burke, a system director of Norton Healthcare鈥檚 Institute
for Education & Development.
The 2025 Healthcare Career Summer Bridge Program will run concurrently with but separately
from Bridge to BU, from June 30 through July 31.