Bridge Experience Program reaches key milestone

This fall, more than half of the university’s majors now have career-ready training as a requirement for graduation, fulfilling an institutional commitment to experiential learning.

“We know hands-on learning and the opportunity for our students to apply what they’ve learned outside the classroom is a strong predictor for success after they leave the university,” said Jill Sible, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. “It’s also a great opportunity to explore their interests, refine their goals, and develop the connections that will allow them to take full advantage of their Virginia Tech education.”

Thirty-seven degree programs from 13 departments are now included in the Bridge Experience Program. By the end of the next academic year, an estimated 4,000 students will participate in bridge experiences.

“The purpose of a bridge experience is to connect our students’ experience in the classroom to their future career,” said Keri Swaby, assistant vice provost for experiential education. “They’re happening in every college and across disciplines, from the humanities to the natural sciences to engineering.”

Qualifying bridge experiences can be research in a campus lab mentored by a faculty member. They can also be paid internships, co-ops with companies, study abroad programs, or service learning through local nonprofits.

“Just as important, this program helps our students think about the skills they’ve learned and be able to articulate them, which is really valuable when they apply to their first job after graduation,” Swaby said.

The university launched the Bridge Experience Program in 2021 as part of its reaccreditation process, which requires creating a Quality Enhancement Program, a universitywide academic initiative to support students and improve learning outcomes. 

The program committed that more than half of degrees would require career-based, experiential learning as a requirement for graduation by spring 2027. That goal was reached more than a year ahead of the deadline. 

Removing barriers to participation

The program, with its continued growth, aligns with the Virginia Tech Advantage, a universitywide commitment to offer broad educational opportunities to undergraduate students from Virginia who have financial need.

“We know our students are having incredible learning experiences doing research, studying abroad, or in internships. But we also know there are barriers to these opportunities,” said Swaby. “Part of the goal of the bridge program is to remove those barriers and offer these experiences to a broader range of undergraduates.”

Participating departments offer sections of the 3900 course, a zero-credit, no-cost course that’s built into their majors' requirement. The course creates space in a student’s four-year academic plan without increasing tuition or time to graduation. 

Career and Professional Development, also part of the restructured Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, supports internships, both on- and off-campus, that may qualify for the Bridge Experience Program. 

Last year, the department partnered with 156 companies, offered through the Cooperative Education and Internship Program. Career and Professional Development also manages Campus internEXP, a hiring platform that connects students to on-campus internships.

The unit also administers the Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund, which provides grants for internships in Virginia that serve the public good. Students can receive up to $5,000 for tuition, transportation costs, housing and moving expenses, or required equipment. 

During this year's spring semester and summer sessions, the program provided about $80,000 in financial support for students working throughout the commonwealth.  

"We have known for a long time that internships and work-based learning are positively correlated with postgraduate success,” said Matthew Cowley, associate vice provost at Career and Professional Development. “What is important is finding sustainable resources and strategies to ensure that those opportunities are available to all Virginia Tech students.”

Planning for continued growth

This fall, the fifth cohort of faculty members are working with the Academy for Experiential Learning to implement the bridge program into their departments.  

“Now that we’ve reached this benchmark, we’re looking to continue to build the program with the ultimate goal of every degree program having meaningful experiential learning as part of their curriculum,” said Sible. “We will continue to evaluate the experiences we offer, address the barriers, and expand the opportunities for our students.”