A Qualitative Approach to Understand STEM Bridge Programs and the Importance of Relationship Building

We explore new approaches to evaluate summer STEM bridge programs to determine the importance of relationships between students, university employees, and industry partners. We use data collected from two cohorts of summer bridge students using qualitative methods to understand the importance of networking and hands-on-learning to college students. We find that their connections were meaningful and the inclusion of social capital workshops impacted their outlook on a STEM career.