Collegiate

Summer Bridge is a six-week residential program enhancing academic preparedness for a scholar’s overall success. Scholars participate in a series of student success activities, attend class, attend field trips, and participate in various community building activities.

Program Objectives

• Assist students in developing critical thinking skills for self-assessment in identifying their strengths and needed areas of improvement as related to their academic and professional development.
• Build a community of learners with the goal of academic excellence by preparing students for the expectations and requirements of the engineering curriculum.
• Facilitate student acclimation to college life for a successful transition from high school to college.
• Introducing students to prospective co-op employers through annual field trips such as: Turner Construction, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, AtriCure, and many more! 
• After completion of the program, students are placed into a learning community for their first year, and have an opportunity to receive additional scholarships! 

Program Qualifications

To qualify for consideration, incoming freshman must: 

• Be a graduating high school senior or have not been previously enrolled post-high school as a student at a college/university
• Seek admission to a baccalaureate degree program in the College of Engineering and Applied Science
• Geographic residency: graduate from a high school within the United States
• High school type: no restrictions apply, public, private, charter, or homeschool students are eligible

Application and Invitation

• To be considered for the program, students must have a complete UC admission common application by November 1 of their senior year
• Apply for the 2026 Summer Bridge Program
• The Summer Bridge Program does involve a separate application. Students receive the application via email they used to submit their application for admission to the university
• Students applying to the program are asked to complete an application for the program. The applications are carefully reviewed by a committee within the college and students will be identified for interviews. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a separate application for summer bridge? 
  • Yes, students must apply through the common application for an engineering major by November 1 and complete the separate summer bridge application. 
• When does the application close?
  • Application closes on December 1, 2025
• When will I be notified of an interview?
  • Applicants will be notified of an interview in January 2026
• When will I receive notification of being accepted into the program?
  • Students will receive acceptance into the program in March 2026
• When is Summer Bridge?
  • Dates for Summer Bridge are June 22- July 31
• Where will I live?
  • Students will live on campus for the 6-week program
• What is the cost?
  • Cost of attendance: $650 (includes: housing, meals, Campus Recreation Pass, field trips)
  • Apply for 2026 Summer Bridge. 

The virtual summer bridge information will be sent to students in March. Students must meet the same program requirements. 

Please contact Andi Talbott with any questions.  

The Emerging Engineers Program is a program within the College of Engineering and Applied Science in the Office of Professional Development and Community Impact. Students are selected for this program in their Senior Year after being admitted to the University. Students are sent an invitation to apply for the Summer Bridge programs offered through the department. There are two options for Summer Bridge programs, Dr. Edward N. Prather Summer Bridge Residential Program and the NACME Virtual Bridge Program. Students are also allowed to opt into the Program if they did not participate in the Bridge Admissions Program prior to their first semester. Students from all backgrounds are able to be in the Emerging Engineers Scholars Program. Students participating in the Bridge Programs, will receive automatic admittance into the Emerging Engineers Scholars program.

Program Requirements

• Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA
• First year students must be enrolled and attend the E2 Scholars Learning Community, including MLTI for E2 Scholars Program
• Second through fifth year students must be enrolled and attending E2 Scholars MLTI Course while enrolled in courses - co-op students do not need to register when they are on co-op. 
• Completion of the course each semester
• 15 hours of STEM community service each semester (fall and spring) 
• Attend success coaching in the office of PDCI 

The Emerging Engineers Leadership Program is a year long program within PDCI! Students apply to be apart of this program, and start in May. Students participating in this program receive rigorous leadership learning and training. During training, students build professional skills, learn how to be peer mentors, develop self-confidence, community engagement, and leadership skills.

Learning outcomes

• Increase student success through personal, emotional, and intellectual development opportunities
• Cultivate sense of community and connectedness
• Teaching Assistant during the summer bridge program
• Be an academic expert within a course
• Increase student leadership and professional development

Leader Responsibilities

• Serve as a CEAS PDCI representative
• Welcome, greet, and connect with new students and their families
• Provide up-to-date and accurate information about PDCI
• Facilitate small group discussions
• Provide mentorship to first-year students

Benefits of being an Emerging Engineer Leader

• Hourly wage compensation for training, summer bridge, and weekly seminars
• Develop leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and communicative skills

Application Criteria

• Students must be current STEM majors
• Available from May 2026 to May 2027 on campus
• Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about UC and CEAS
• Dedicated to the team and responsible
• Reliable and responsive
• 2.75 cumulative GPA
• Completed application

The application is currently closed. Please check back in the spring for more information. For more, please email ceas_pdci@uc.edu

Students are encouraged to join the Emerging Engineers Learning Community. Upon completion of the in-person and virtual summer bridge program, students are automatically enrolled within the Learning Community. Any student can participate in the learning program. Students participating in this Learning Community are in the same courses for their first year, attend a weekly seminar, meet with industry partners, and attend workshops. Students participating in this program are expected to maintain satisfactory academic standing in the college, participate in weekly seminars, attend all classes within the learning community, and complete 15 STEM-related volunteer hours every semester.

Learning outcomes

• Enhancing academic success
• Developing essential skills like time management and self-regulation
• Foster personal growth and well-being 
• Creating strong social and academic support networks with peers, staff, and faculty

Why is the Emerging Engineers First Year Learning Community Valuable?

Emerging Engineers have an overall graduation rate higher than the national average. Students participating in this program have a 94% retention rate to the college by their second year. Students have access to the following opportunities:

• Co-op and career preparation
• Professional development
• Peer Mentors
• Success Coaching
• Access to industry
• Research opportunities
• Additional scholarship opportunities

Questions? Please contact Andi Talbott, our Program Coordinator or email ceas_pdci@uc.edu

Success coaching is a student-centered support model designed to help college students thrive academically, personally, financially, and professionally. Success coaching is open to all undergraduate CEAS students. 

Program Outcomes

• Meet one on one with a personal success coach to set and achieve yearly goals, navigate college resources, address challenges, and celebrate success
• FIrst year students participate in a learning community and have peer mentors, as well as success coaches
• First year students meet with their success coaches on a monthly basis
• Second through fifth year students participate in two coaching meetings a semester, attend a biweekly seminar course to engage with industry partners, community partners, and campus partners. 
• Access to scholarship opportunities 

Request a coach today! 

• Join our Emerging Engineers Program
• Fill out the success coaching referral form

We can't wait to support you!     

The 2nd – 5th year program is for students to continue within the Emerging Engineers Program, focusing on continuing to build personal, academic, and professional development. Students attend workshops, continue relationship building with industry partners and faculty, mentorship with industry partners, continued success coaching, and receive additional scholarship opportunities.

Program Opportunities

• Co-op preparation/support
• Access to collaborative courses 
• Success Coaching
• Early access to industry
• Industry mentorship
• Recognition at PDCI Banquet
• Additional scholarship opportunities

Learning Outcomes:

• Increasing long-term knowledge
• Continuing to foster personal growth and well-being
• Foster community and support
• Continuous engagement

Please contact Kelsi Goins with any questions. 

Southwest Ohio Scholars Program in Computer Science:

• The Southwest Ohio Scholars Program (SOSP) is part of the National Science Foundation's Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) initiative. This program is specifically designed to support and empower undergraduate students who show strong potential in pursuing Computer Science (CS) degrees at the University of Cincinnati. Through a combination of financial scholarships, academic support, and hands-on industry experience via the university’s co-op program, the SOSP aims to increase retention and graduation rates among its scholars. Over a five-year period, the program will provide scholarships to 36 students across multiple cohorts, helping them complete their degrees and enter the workforce. By fostering a culture of belonging and involving students’ families in their educational journey, the SOSP hopes to develop the next generation of talented computer scientists to meet the growing demand for technology professionals in Ohio.

Choose Ohio First: 

• The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program (COFSP) is a State of Ohio initiative designed to significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness within STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) disciplines and STEMM education. Funding through Choose Ohio First (COF) provides competitive scholarships that aid in meeting college costs while giving awarded scholars expanded and unique mentorship and programming opportunities in their discipline.
• Choose Ohio First is a part of a strategic effort to retain Ohio residents and bolster Ohio’s economic strength by ensuring a ready workforce for STEMM-related industries. The Office of Professional Development & Community Impact (PDCI) within the College of Engineering and Applied Science strives to empower individuals to transform their lives and achieve their highest potential by offering programs, services and scholarships that will enhance learning and lead to success. Choose Ohio First (COF) is a major initiative of PDCI and works collaboratively with the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Allied Health to provide dynamic student engagement. The engagement is a targeted effort to produce a broad community of scholars trained to excel in the STEMM disciplines via industry or academia upon graduation.

• The Program Includes:
  • Receive Success coaching and mentoring
  • Conduct STEMM community engagement service
  • Participate in monthly group social activities and workshops
  • Author reflective writing exercises
  • Develop ePortfolios of scholarship requirements
  • Choose Ohio First Scholarships is limited to the amount of funding received, number of scholars, and also limited majors approved by the state through the grant. There is no application, potential candidates are selected, and invited to the Summer Bridge Program through their initial application information submitted to Admissions by December 1.