Investigating the impact of a hybrid summer transition program

Pre-college summer transition programs are prevalent at colleges and universities around the country and are generally associated with positive impacts on student retention and graduation rates. At Virginia Commonwealth University, a six week hybrid on-campus/online program is offered to incoming science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors from racial and ethnic backgrounds underrepresented in those disciplines (i.e., African American, Latino/a, Native American). This work-in-progress investigates the participants' perceptions of the program in facilitating their academic and social integration into the university. An explanatory mixed methods approach is used. Participants perceive the hybrid program to have played a vital role in their social integration and an integral role in supporting their academic integration into the university.