CSI: Collegiate Success Institute: Program
UMBC’s summer bridge program focuses not only on familiarizing you with university academics; campus life and community also play a large role in our students’ lives. We recognize strong value in the community built amongst CSI team members and therefore ask that you take part in all pieces of the CSI program which include both the academic and program components.
We plan activities outside of your classroom experience to
- Ensure you get to know the other students through shared experiences. These excursions will help you to explore the similarities and differences in your family backgrounds/upbringing, interests, majors, talents and knowledge sets thereby allowing you to build friendships and a network of support for future academic and personal experiences at UMBC.
- Enable you to become familiar with Baltimore, Catonsville and the area surrounding UMBC. The intent is to take you further than the prospective student’s view of the local area and beyond the highlights of a tourist’s view of Baltimore to a knowledge and appreciation of the city that will soon become your backyard.
The chosen co-curricular activities are intended to provide a balance of knowledge as it relates to the geographical, historical, cultural, environmental, sociological, civic, entrepreneurial, and recreational composition of the area and campus.
You may be wondering, “What types of activities happen during CSI?” For a list of possible options please see the FAQs. The activities for CSI 2010 are in the planning stages however we can reveal that the 2009 CSI team especially enjoyed participating in a low-ropes teambuilding course, a visit to The American Visionary Arts Museum, a community service day and laser tag.
Other than your fellow new UMBC students you will also have the unique opportunity to connect with Peer Mentors who are hired to assist you both in and outside of the classroom. These UMBC students serve as tutors as well as students who can offer perspective, advice and guidance about making the transition to college. These model UMBC students provide suggestions for local activities which would be of interest to new students and also have the pleasure of accompanying us on all of these trips!