Design and Impact of a Near Peer-Led Computer Science Summer Bridge Program

This full innovative practice paper presents a study on the effectiveness of a computer science bridge program at a mid-sized regional public university in the Northeast United States. The program was designed for incoming first-year full-time students pursuing a degree in computer science (CS) at the university. The structure of this program differs from others with its leadership consisting of undergraduate students of varying seniority. It also features an emphasis on building a strong sense of community and seeks to inspire creativity in CS through lesson plans that are complementary with what participants learn in the university’s degree program.This study investigates the outcomes of the program after three iterations. To quantify its impact on participants, retention rates of program participants are compared with those of students who were invited to participate in the program but declined. Positive effects stemming from near-peer mentoring and the creation of a lasting digital support network for program participants are also analyzed.The researchers expected the data collected to reflect a successful impact from students’ participation in the program. Chi-square testing on the collected retention data from the first two cohorts revealed a statistically significant result for one cohort.The third iteration of the program resulted in a highly active online community of freshmen that has been supported by students of higher seniority throughout participants’ first academic school year.Based on these findings, we urge all institutions seeking to support a diverse body of students in their STEM pathways to implement summer bridge programs. We recommend engaging existing undergraduate students in developing and leading such programs, and focusing on building a community and on-going support network.