Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program

The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program provides students attending Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Lake Superior College with a fellowship to a training program in biomedical research. The program provides educational support and training in laboratory-based research. The program is two years and trainees receive a stipend, paid tuition, and paid fees. Trainees are also encouraged to present their research at a national science meeting, with all travel costs covered by the program. Additionally, each student receives a research supply budget.

The Bridges Program aims to increase the number of community college students entering the biomedical science field who obtain a biomedical science-related baccalaureate degree. These degrees include the following: biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, psychology, chemical engineering, and computer science. The program includes skills development and training to facilitate a seamless transfer from the community college to the University. Once students have entered the program, they will participate in research academies, which stress the development of professional skills such as communication, critical thinking, and quantitative analysis. The research training develops skills of leadership, observation and data collection, and how to use the scientific method. Trainees will then progress into faculty-directed research projects to give them exposure to the academic research environment.

The Bridges Program is a partnership between Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Lake Superior College, and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus. The program is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health-National Institute of General Medical Sciences Research (GM137862).