Call for core faculty for the 2024 Summer Bridge Scholars Program

This is an open call for applications to teach a three-credit summer course in the Georgia College & State University Bridge Scholars Program (BSP). Faculty members are needed to teach Area A-E core courses for the summer 2024 Bridge Scholars Program. Core courses meet in the morning (9 a.m.- 12 p.m.) or afternoon (1:30-4:30 p.m.) Monday-Friday between June 16 and July 28, 2023.

BSP is a year-long Residential Learning Community which gives approximately 125 freshmen a head start on college through a special program designed to help them make a successful transition from high school to campus. During the summer, BSP students take a one-credit hour success course and six hours of core courses for a total of seven hours. Students who pass all courses with a grade of C or better are eligible to return to Georgia College for their freshman year. These students then continue taking classes and participating in extracurricular programming together throughout their first year. One of the highlights and benefits of the program is the close interaction that BSP students enjoy with their faculty and BSP staff. Past BSP students have gone on to be academically successful campus leaders, and this is due in part to the strong start they have had for their college experience.

Summer 2023 dates (extracurricular programming TBA):

April TBA, BSP faculty/staff orientation

June 15 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., BSP Orientation, Faculty and Academic Coach Meeting

June 17 – June 20 GCSU 1010 Student Success course (No classes June 19)

June 21 – July 16, Core courses (M-F, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. – 4:30p.m.; no classes July 4 – 5)

July 17 – July 18, Final exams, grades posted, program closing banquet

July 19 – BSP Students check out of residence halls

Interested faculty should submit a paragraph identifying the core course they would like to teach and addressing (1) their interest in the BSP program, (2) how their teaching style would be a good fit for this specialized cohort of students, and (3) their thoughts on how faculty involvement outside of the classroom can support and enhance pedagogy.

Please submit this paragraph by Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 to bridge.scholars@gcsu.edu. Hiring decisions will be made in mid-February.

Remuneration is a portion of your salary plus benefits. Pay will be split over pay dates on June 30 and July 31, 2023. Faculty should understand that due to the nature of this program, there is an expectation of involvement outside the classroom to support and facilitate student development via relationship building and mentoring during the transition to university life. Faculty must be approved by their department chair and the chair of the area they wish to instruct.

Faculty hired to teach with the BSP during summer 2024 will be required to hold at least one study session at West Campus during the summer program and participate in the following events:

• At least two interview dates held in March
• April TBA: BSP faculty/staff orientation
• Saturday, June 15: BSP orientation
• Thursday, July 18: Closing Banquet