Academic Success Center

September Scholars is an academic bridge program that offers new students the opportunity to earn college credit and to experience what academic life and studying feels like first-hand prior to fall term.

September Scholar students get the oppurtunity to take classes, meet friends, go rafting, and learn their way around campus in a program designed to help them succeed in college! This unique transition experience is offered by invitation only to 80 incoming first-year students and is funded by Oregon State University.

As a September Scholar, a student joins a cohort of 20 students for a 11 day summer bridge program, and a fall First Year Seminar only availiable to participating students.

September Scholars Bridge Program

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge Program consists of:

• Moving into the program Residence Hall in early September and opening the program with a Welcome Dinner for participants, staff, faculty, and families. Arriving early allows September Scholars students to get to know their way around campus before the other first year students arrive.
• Taking a 2-credit ALS College Transitions course. The 4-5 hours of class each day, and related homework assignments help students establish and practice college level learning courses. Because of the accelerated nature of this course, students will gain a jump start in college learning and assignments, while earning 2 credits towards graduation.
• Benefitting from structured evening study tables held each night that provide a supportive and collaborative homework and study work environment.
• Forming relationships with other students, with program faculty and staff, and with advisors and offices across campus. September Scholars meet 19 other students in the cohort so they’ll have friends and people they know long before school starts. Students in the program gain a significant advantage by getting to know faculty, advisors and other campus resources in a more personal setting before school starts.
• Participating in fun cohort bonding experiences and activities including a river-rafting trip, a scavenger hunt, and other campus activities. 

Fall Transition Program

The Fall Program (during Fall Term) consists of:

• Taking a 2-credit ALS First Year Transitions seminar. The 2 hours of class each week, and outside coursework and assignments help students establish and practice academic success skills in college level courses. September Scholars will learn academic skills & strategies, develop test-preparation & test-taking techniques, examine their learning style and strengths and explore campus resources in the fall transitions course.
• Attending regular one-on-one meetings an academic counselor throughout fall term with the option to continue this support throughout the rest of the year. This support gives students a personal connection to an individual and resource during their transition to OSU.
• Ongoing experiences with other September Scholars, helping students build connections and friendships beyond the summer bridge experience. September Scholars hosts reunion activities and get-togethers to develop community and build relationships between students and staff.  In addition, students in this program will have access to group study locations, study tables, and other support that is only available to participating students.