Coastal ROOTS

Coastal Roots

The Coastal ROOTS (Restoring Our Opportunities Toward Success) Summer Bridge Program is an integrative and innovative summer bridge program supported by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, completed in the Summer 2 semester before the fall semester of students’ first year of college.

Mission

The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program aims to enhance the student experience and foster a sense of campus and cultural belonging, student engagement, educational enrichment, and personal empowerment to ensure student success at UNCW and beyond.

The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program will focus on eight overarching themes: 

• Financial Literacy
• Career Preparedness and Networking
• Cultural Awareness (campus and surrounding communities)
• Social and Community Engagement
• Academic Excellence
• Critical Thinking, Writing and Study Skills
• Time Management and Mindfulness
• Research and Scholarship

The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program will aim to recruit and support first-year students from the following backgrounds:

• First Generation Students
• Students from Low Ascending Counties (Rural Counties)
• Students with low ACT/SAT
• Students with a low EFC of 5000 or below
• Students that are Pell Grant eligible
• Student Athletes

The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program has a distinct program structure to ensure college preparation and continued academic success, which will include cultural exposure, professional development, networking, and community awareness alongside the completion of two university studies courses (Math 150 and English 101). The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program will welcome forty students into the summer program.

Upon completion, the ROOTS Summer Bridge Program can join the RISE learning community for their first year (fall and spring semesters).

The program will run from June 23 to July 25, 2024.

Students must accept and commit to The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program by May 1, annually.

Student scholars will live on campus during the Summer 2 academic semester and take two courses, English 101 and Math 150.  Additionally, student scholars will participate in cultural exposure, professional development, networking, financial literacy, and community awareness.  The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program will conclude with a ceremony and an invitation for ROOTS scholars to transfer into the RISE academic year living-learning community.

Program Costs

Students that participate in The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program will be financially responsible for:

• Dining hall summer meal plans
• Books and course supplies for Math 150 and English 101

               (i.e., notebooks, calculator, associated class costs)

The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) will be financially responsible for:

• Summer tuition and fees for each participant
• Housing fees for each participant
• Engagement activities
• End of program luncheon

Please NOTE: 

Students can be considered for financial aid (scholarships, grant, aid, loans) for The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program. 

To be considered, students will need to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA. 

Next Steps

Next steps…Accept your invitation!

Click below to accept your invitation to become a ROOTS Scholar and to participate in The Coastal ROOTS Summer Bridge Program by May 15, 2024.  The link will be active March 2024.

Contact Us:

Ingrid C. Dearborn-DeLeón, Coordinator
dearborni@uncw.edu
910.962.2758