Does A Successful Mathematics Bridge Program Make For Successful Students?

The Mathematics Summer Bridge Program, offered by the Department of Freshman Engineering since 1990, is an intense one-week review of algebra and trigonometry and introduction to Purdue University designed for the beginning freshman engineer. The target audience for this program is students who have been identified as having math skills deficiencies during summer registration. Changes in directorship, program format, and philosophy introduced in 2000 and 2001 have yielded an average pass rate on the MA 151 credit exam of 86%, a very significant increase over previous years. This has led to an increase in "at risk" student enrollment in first semester calculus. Student evaluations of the program and the credit exam pass rate seemingly indicate that the program is successful. Student performance data, including first semester GPA, math course grades, and retention in engineering and at the university have been collected for 2000 and 2001. This paper will compare first semester performance of Math Bridge participants to non-Bridge participants as well as 2000 and 2001 participants.