How graduate school bridge programs can help increase diversity in STEM subject admission

While much attention has been given to the need for ethnic minorities to pursue college education in order to compete in the labor market, there has been less attention given to graduate school enrollment rates among people of color. In new work, Bridgette Peteet examines the EMERGE graduate school bridge program, finding that it increases the pool of highly qualified, diverse candidates for graduate admissions. Building on the EMERGE case study, she writes that successful bridge programs have six major components: long term commitment from the university, financial support, effective leadership and mentorship, cultural engagement and academic and admissions preparation.