The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program provides support to institutions to help students make transitions at a critical stage in their development as scientists. The program is aimed at helping students make the transition from 2-year junior or community colleges to full 4-year baccalaureate programs. The program targets students from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research enterprise of the nation and/or populations disproportionately affected by health disparities (targeted groups).
The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program promotes institutional partnerships between community colleges or other 2-year post-secondary educational institutions granting the associate degree and colleges or universities that offer the baccalaureate degree. The partnership/consortium must involve at least two colleges or universities but no more than four institutions, including the applicant institution, unless strongly justified. The bachelor’s degree-granting institution(s) in the consortium must have a strong science curricula and a track record of enrolling, retaining, and graduating students who pursue advanced degrees in biomedical and behavioral research fields. Community colleges and other 2-year post-secondary educational institutions in the consortium must offer associate degree programs with an emphasis on the biomedical and behavioral sciences and must have a high enrollment, as determined by the applicant institution, of students from targeted groups.
Bridges to the Baccalaureate provides support for student, faculty, and institutional development activities. Awards are made to domestic, private and public, educational institutions. State and local systems of higher education may also apply. The total project period may not exceed 5 years. The size of award will vary with the scope of the research education program proposed.
For additional information about these awards, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, July 23, 2007 (PAR-07-411), or contact Dr. Shiva P. Singh at 301-594-3900.
Bridges to the Baccalaureate Supplemental Instructions for Noncompeting Progress Report
Bridges to the Baccalaureate Participating Institutions
Bridges Programs Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
