Preparatory or bridging courses are widespread and have a long tradition at universities. They are designed to increase students' academic success -- in particular of students with low prior knowledge -- and to reduce dropout rates. However, critics of these short and compact bridging courses complain that preparatory courses are not able to fill…

St. Olaf College recently restructured its Summer Bridge Program (SBP) course for incoming low-income (LI) and first-generation (FG) college students from a non-major biology course, "Issues in Biology," to an interdisciplinary "Explorations in Science" course. Two significant changes were made with the intention of giving…

This article describes how the Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) programme was implemented in the final year of primary school and the first year of secondary school in a number of schools in Ireland. The original CASE programme, pioneered in the 1980s, proved successful in its aim to develop the science-reasoning abilities…

We describe the structure of a writing-intensive, chemistry first year seminar designed to support a three week, research focused summer bridge program. Writing assignments in the seminar helped students understand their research activities, learn to conduct themselves as scientists, and reflect upon their lab work. The writing intensive seminar…

We developed an online exam to diagnose students who are underprepared for college-level general chemistry and implemented a program to support them during the general chemistry sequence. This transition program consists of extended-length recitations, peer-led team-learning (PLTL) study groups, and peer-mentoring groups. We evaluated this…

A peer-mentoring program was developed for students in an introductory biology course at a university in Ontario, Canada. Students could attend up to five peer-mentoring sessions during their first semester. Quantitative-survey, participation, and academic data spanning from 2003 through 2007 were reviewed for the purpose of evaluating the…

The REAL Camp-NIU Experience established at Northern Illinois University serves as a model to afford high school students an experience in science- and mathematics-related careers. The participants' perceptions of the college-based camp curriculum were very favorable, as were the perceptions from preservice teachers and practicing teachers…

A Monash University (Australia) program to enhance the chemistry and physics preparation of secondary school graduates entering engineering in higher education offers one-semester intensive courses. The first four years of the program have produced encouraging results. Coordination of practical work and theory is seen as crucial to learning. (MSE)

Programs designed to enable Australian aborigines who had not successfully completed high school to qualify for science- and mathematics-related courses in higher education emphasize diagnostic testing, individualized instruction, short-term goals, and learner independence. Tutors have instructional, management, and support roles. Some early…

Project Adelante provided instruction in English as a second language (ESL), as well as bilingual instruction in social studies, mathematics, and science to 230 students of limited English proficiency at William H. Taft High Schol, Bronx, New York City. One of the program's major goals was to expedite the acquisition and use of English language…

The Basic Trilingual Program at Flushing High School in New York City is described in this report. As implemented in 1980-1981, the program aimed to help 250 Spanish- and Korean-speaking high school students (grades 9 through twelve) to make the transition to English by adopting a comprehensive instructional approach consisting of intensive…

Project Effective Transition of the Bilingual and Bicultural Student to Senior High School (ETBBS) at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York, provided additional administrative and instructional staff in order to offer instructional services to 165 foreign born students, mostly from Puerto Rico and Haiti. The program was designed to…

Equal Career Opportunities is a program that aims to provide instruction in English language skills while offering bilingual instruction in basic skills and pre-occupational training to limited-English-proficient Spanish-speaking and Haitian high school students at three schools in New York City. This report describes the program as it was…

Project VIBES at South Shore High School in New York City is described in this report. The project is a transitional bilingual education program that emphasizes acculturation and the acquisition of English language skills while maintaining the native language and appreciation of the students' cultural heritage. As implemented in 1980-81, the…

The New York City Russian Bilingual Program is described in this report. As implemented in 1980-81, the program provided instruction in English as a second language, native language arts, reading, and bilingual mathematics, science, social studies, and other subject areas to approximately 700 Russian-dominant students of limited English…