Students will arrive on Sunday, June 18 and leave on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

There is no cost to participate in Bridge.

Bridge students will follow any campus policies related to Covid-19. You can review current policies here.

Yes, to join us for Bridge 2023, students a required to have first-round covid vaccinations and boosters before arriving on campus and share that information with Student Life/White House Clinic in advance of your arrival. Berea Bridge students must upload their vaccination verification here.

You can consult Student Life’s FAQ page for details about what is included in each residence hall room.

You’ll  want to be sure to bring:

• Bedsheets or a sleeping bag
• Toiletries
• Activewear (e.g running shoes, comfortable shorts/t-shirts)
• An umbrella or rain jacket and rain boots
• Laundry supplies (e.g., detergent and dryer sheets) Note: Use of laundry facilities in the residence halls is free.
• A bath towel and cheap plastic sandals to wear as “shower shoes.”

Many Bridge students have been happy they’ve brought:

• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Over the counter medications (e.g. Tylenol, band-aids, Neosporin)
• An extension cord and a fan
• A small reading light
• Light snacks (e.g ramen, popcorn, granola bars)
• Boots or sturdy footwear
• A hat and sunglasses

Once a week, you will have the chance to take a shuttle to Walmart should you run out of something or discover you forgot to pack something. You can also order items online and have them delivered to your CPO mailbox on campus.

We’ll supply everything you need for class (notebooks, pens, textbooks, etc.), so don’t worry about packing school supplies. You can consult Student Life’s FAQ page and the Residential Living Guide for additional guidance about what is and isn’t allowed in the residence halls. Leave your candles, hot plates, and big appliances at home. Keep in mind, too, that you will not be able to store your belongings on campus after Bridge because of the in-depth cleaning of residence halls that happens over the summer. Whatever you move in at the start of Bridge will have to be moved back out and taken home once the month is over.

Once a week, you will have the chance to take a shuttle to Walmart so that you can buy supplies as you need them (e.g., if you run out of shampoo or want to pick up baking supplies to make brownies with a friend). There are also several stores within walking distance near campus that make for fun shopping trips with friends!

Not necessarily. We randomly assign roommates for Bridge; for the school year, however, you will have the option to either request a roommate or have a roommate randomly assigned to you. Many Bridge students do request to live with their Bridge roommate or another friend they make during the program, but that choice will be up to you.

No, student participants are not allowed to bring their cars for Bridge.

Everything you need for learning, dining, or joining in official program activities will be provided to you. Additionally, after move-in, students will receive a modest stipend that will help you cover any incidentals that you might need or a visit to the local ice cream shop with friends. For your work in the labor program during Bridge, you will receive a paycheck via direct deposit. You can find the pay schedule for summer labor positions here.

Because you’ll be taking classes, working in the labor program, and having fun, you’ll be  busy from about 8 am to 9 pm each day, so we ask that all Bridge students stay at Berea for the duration of the program. Your family may visit you on campus, but they may not stay with you in the residence halls.

For Bridge 2023, you’ll take two classes that will be announced when you arrive for the program. Each class will have 15 students in it and will be supported by a teaching assistant. You won’t have a choice in classes, but if you successfully complete both courses you’ll earn 1 elective credit toward graduation!

Students will find out their labor positions on the first day of the Bridge program. Bridge students work in typical Berea College labor positions: in Information Systems & Services, on the College Farm, in College Crafts, as Facilities Assistants in the residence halls, and so on. All Bridge students work up to 6 hours per week during the program.

While adjusting to the expectations of college-level academic work is the central feature of Berea Bridge, it’s only one part of what you’ll be doing during the month that you’re on campus. You’ll be eating meals in the dining hall, working a labor position, attending workshops, visiting different campus centers, participating in fun activities organized by your RAs, and even traveling off campus for some excursions into nature and/or area attractions. In downtime, Bridge students make their own fun, too: you might enjoy playing video or board games with friends, having a movie night in the residence hall lobby, gathering together to play music and sing, playing basketball at the gym, joining an informal bible study, or hiking on local trails.