Guttman welcomed 47 incoming students to its first Winter Bridge Program on February 29. Participants included CUNY Start students who competed their program on February 18 at the end of the Fall II 2015 session and those who deferred admission. The Guttman Bridge Program is a high-impact practice that seeks to support students as they transition to college. These students comprised the College’s first Spring freshman class.
Throughout the week, students were introduced to the City Seminar course through activities centered on the common read Drown, by Junot Díaz, the theme of social sustainability, the Guttman student engagement model, and student technologies. They participated in a field experience in which New York City was their classroom. For the Winter Bridge Field Day assignment, student groups were given appointments at the offices of seven non-profit organizations for the purpose of interviewing a key member of the organization. Students visited the following participating non-profits organizations on March 2: The Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance, East Harlem Talent Network, Futures and Options, JobsFirstNYC, New York Public Library, New York City Employment & Training Coalition and Project Renewal. The collaboration has led to Guttman establishing additional partnerships as well as supporting these organizations in fulfilling their mission.
On the morning of March 4, students presented their group ePortfolios to their cohort. On Friday afternoon, the group transitioned from Bridge students to matriculated Guttman Community College students in the House 7 learning community at the end of a pinning ceremony held in the Guttman Atrium.
