Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program

The University of Mount Union Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program is a free two-week residential program that introduces first-year students to the academic expectations of higher education, familiarizes them with valuable campus resources, and provides opportunities to foster social and academic relationships with peers, faculty, and staff.  

Some additional program benefits include: 

Receive a $300 scholarship toward first-semester book costs after successful completion of the 2-week program.
Earn 2 credit hours toward graduation upon completion of the program .
Learn the differences between high school and university classes .
Meet other first-year students .
Get to know faculty, staff, and your new campus before classes begin .

Jumpstart  runs  Sunday, July 21 through Saturday, August 3. 

Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program Resources

Visit the following resources for students and families that are interested in the Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program.

Benefits

Most students entering college are expected to figure out how to adapt to the experience on their own. The opportunities that students are exposed to during the Jumpstart Program are unique experiences that will give them an advantage when classes begin. By introducing them to the expectations of college life at Mount Union and equipping them with the skills and resources to succeed, students will be empowered to customize their university experience, while beginning to develop strategies and skills to be successful. 

THE JUMPSTART PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THREE CORE AREAS

Academic Success

Focus on equipping incoming students with the skills and strategies to transition to, and manage the academic workload they can expect at UMU 
Practice critical thinking and reflection techniques, communication, and technical skills needed in University coursework, particularly college-level reading, writing, and oral communication 
Developing academic success strategies in math, reading, writing, oral presentations, and research 
Developing important skills for a successful college career, including note-taking, study skills, time management, test anxiety, stress management, major planning, and more .

Student Support and Services

Acclimating students to campus life 
Empowering students to successfully navigate the many student services and support areas available at Mount 
Learning how to customize a personalized experience at the University through an introduction to a variety of opportunities to get involved on campus, from academic departments and programs to student-led organizations and activities.

Social and Cultural Activities

Build a strong cohort of fellow students, which will develop into a close network of peers contributing to their social integration as well as provide a collaborative learning community 
Form supportive relationships with UMU faculty and staff who will serve as advisors, tutors, and mentors to provide students with the support necessary for success.   
Learn about the variety of opportunities to get actively involved in social, cultural, educational, and service programs at Mount Union 
Embrace all forms of diversity through collaborative projects and experiences

Parents and Families

As you know, college is a critical time for growth and development. At the University of Mount Union, students have every opportunity – both in and out of the classroom – to stretch intellectually and personally. The Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program provides the chance to get an extra “jump” on this development and the college experience!

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

 This is the second year for the Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program, which was initiated in the summer of 2017 based on the research and work of Dr. Lori Braa, Associate Professor of Human Performance and Sports Business. 

“Students are more prone to continue their education if they identify someway with campus and make connections. If they feel connected and part of things, they are less likely to transfer,” said Braa, who also says, "This program is a commitment to students' academic success."  

Jumpstart allows incoming first-year students, like yours, the ability to learn about class and academic expectations in the University setting, discover new techniques to develop study and academic success skills, and focus on how time management and finding balance are key to the learning process. Upon completing Jumpstart, your student will feel comfortable on campus, understand where to go for help and that faculty members are here and want to help develop and guide them toward academic accomplishment. 

FAMILY JUMPSTART PROGRAM

 As you know, Jumpstart is designed to help your student transition to the college setting and to ensure they make connections to people and support on campus to help with this. Those connections are also invaluable to you as part of the support team for your new Mount Union student! To that end, we invite you to our family programming on the first and last days of the Jumpstart program!  More information about this will be posted in early May!

JUMPSTART DAY 1

During the move-in time, 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm, families will be able to schedule a time to meet with Student Financial Aid and/or the Business Office to ensure your questions are answered and you’ve got a firm grasp on the finances at Mount Union. 
Beginning at 2:30pm, once all the moving in has taken place, we have several sessions for families and parents that will include a more detailed introduction to the Jumpstart program, a session about what to expect in from your college students in the first semester and year, an introduction to services on campus that you may need (bookstore, Purple Plus card, etc., and information about other supports for your student on campus. 

More information about this program, including an invitation to which you can RSVP, will be emailed to you at the beginning of July.

JUMPSTART CLOSING BANQUET

To mark the end of the Jumpstart experience for you and your students, we invite you to our closing banquet on Saturday, August 3 at 11:30 am. During this event, we’ll recognize the hard work of your students, share how the program progressed, and give the students a chance to show you some of what they’ve worked on in the past two weeks! 

More information about this program, including an invitation to which you can RSVP, will be emailed to you at the beginning of July.

Resources

We encourage parents to reach out with any questions you may have as your student transitions from high school to college. You can also find detailed information about Jumpstart on the FAQ page. 

The Office of Business Affairs and Student Financial Aid are here to help as well. If you have specific questions with regard to financial aid qualifications, or deadlines for financial aid application submission, please do not hesitate to reach out to Student Financial Aid. For specific questions with regard to your student's bill, please reach out to Business Affairs.

For more information about academic support resources, the Office of Academic Support is dedicated to assisting your student through peer tutoring, mentoring and student-faculty collaboration, is here to help! 

For more information about the Jumpstart Program, in general, please contact academicsupport@mountunion.edu  or call the Center for Student Success at (330) 823.8685. 