Fifteen first-year students are experiencing Wartburg College prior to the start of the academic year as participants in its first summer bridge program.
Summer Knights, a five-week residential program, helps students who may otherwise have difficulties transitioning from high school to college. Dr. Edith Waldstein, vice president for enrollment management and associate professor of humanities, said the program will address transition issues, including preparing them for college-level course work and acclimating them to the college campus, Waverly and the Cedar Valley.
“We want them to be ready and raring to go in the fall,” Waldstein said. “This program will give them a taste of what to expect and prepare them to be successful at Wartburg.”
Many of the students come from the Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy in Chicago. There is also one student each from Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids. Waldstein would like to see the program grow in size and geographic diversity in coming years.
Students began their three for-credit classes June 8. Jette Irgens, the Summer Knights director and the Pathways associate for the Writing/Reading/Speaking Lab, said the jump start means students can begin more major-related course work during their first or second term. The students also will participate in several hands-on academic opportunities on campus, visit Genuine Faux Farm in Tripoli and KBBG FM-88.1 radio in Waterloo.
On campus, the group lives together in a residence hall and attends mandatory study hours. They also are meeting key campus leaders who can help them throughout their time at Wartburg.
“We see some students who are very reluctant to seek out help from the services on campus,” Irgens said. “This program will give them that point-of-contact — someone they can seek out when an exam doesn’t go well. We will meet every two or three weeks during the school year, so that it isn’t just helping them through this summer session and then “Good-bye.” We will be following up with these students.”
This year’s pilot program was made possible through a gift from Ray ’65 and Judy ’65 McCaskey. Ray McCaskey is chairman of the Wartburg College Board of Regents. The couple has a longstanding relationship with Rowe-Clark, including a scholarship specifically for Rowe-Clark students who choose Wartburg College.
“They are very committed to education, especially making college education possible for students who might otherwise not be able to go to college or a place like Wartburg,” Waldstein said. “Being Wartburg alums, they are always happy to see students come here.
“We are very excited about this opportunity. It’s been a long time in the making and we are excited to implement it this year,” Waldstein added.