JumpStart students participated in team building exercises with consultant Daniel Vassel (standing).CLEVELAND, Miss. — Each summer, Delta State University offers JumpStart, a four-week summer bridge program that helps incoming freshmen transition from high school to college. JumpStart offers first-time freshmen the ability to become acclimated to academic, personal, and social challenges which often occur during the first semester of college.
Evelyn Greer, a nursing major from Holly Springs, attended the program last summer and volunteered as a JumpStart mentor this summer. She said, “Last year, before my freshman year started, I was a JumpStart student. I took two classes, and we spent a month on campus, visiting the different colleges. We had a block party with the provost and Dr. Eddie Lovin, VP for Student Affairs. I got to meet a lot of people around campus.”
Incoming freshmen enroll in six credit-bearing hours and are assigned to one of five academic pathways based on their academic major. The predetermined general education courses taken by students are aligned with their academic pathway. In addition to taking classes, students attend study and discussion groups, participate in social, cultural and career awareness activities, reside in on-campus housing, attend academic workshops, and meet with an academic coach for academic mentoring.
Greer said, “This year, I’m a mentor. I’m here just to help the kids navigate around campus, answer their questions about campus life, anything like that.”
Program services continue beyond the summer as students meet with program staff three times during the fall and spring semesters. During these meetings, they will participate in academic coaching and have access to academic success workshops which assist in building skills essential to college completion.
DSU’s Student Success Center has shown high levels of student engagement and positive outcomes since the Center was established in 2012. JumpStart’s goal is to give incoming students the resources they need to accomplish their goals and graduate successfully from Delta State University.
For more information, contact Barbara Washington at 662-846-4354 or bwashington@deltastate.edu.
