Bakersfield College Hosts 'Bridge to BC'

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

“Bridge to BC” is a one-day, in-person, first-year experience course designed to help first-time and returning college students prepare academically, socially, and personally as they transition to college. Under the leadership of Faculty Director Dr. Kimberly Bligh, Education Advisor Kris Herrera, Program Manager Tim Lafondez, dozens of student peer mentors, educational advisors, and faculty come together to create an intensive and supportive learning community.

Bridge to BC is about to wrap up its 11th year as the premier Freshmen onboarding program at BC! Bridge to BC started in 2014 with just 140 students, currently averages 3,000 students each year, and has successfully onboarded 18,000 first time students at BC. Bridge to BC holds sessions at the Panorama, Delano, Southwest, and Arvin campuses. The Bridge program was institutionalized and includes broad campus collaboration with instruction, student services, and all the support departments at each BC campus.

The Bridge in-person day includes a full campus tour highlighting all of BC’s academic, personal, and career resources. Classroom activities include topics such as learning strategies to identify and navigate barriers to success, setting SMART goals, learning to navigate the BC website, the student portal, STARFISH, and Canvas. Students also research their career and educational pathways and network with peers. They meet one-on-one with an education advisor to review their upcoming schedule, discuss their major, and review their educational goals. Lunch and hands-on classroom activities are always fun and interactive!

The BC Institutional Effectiveness Office has been tracking the success, retention, and completion rates for 10 years for students who complete Bridge to BC program (ACDV B55NC and EDUC B68NC) as compared to students who do not complete the program. 

• Bridge participants are four times more likely than non-participants to complete the Golden Four courses in their first year.
• Bridge participants are three times more likely to complete their degrees in two years than their non-participating peers and more than three times as likely to transfer in two or three-years than their non-participating peers.

Program Manager, Timothy Lafondez, who supports Bridge and other academic support services at BC stated, “Even with over twenty years of service to higher education, I've never seen anything quite like Bridge to BC. From the moment they step on campus, new students receive an intentional and heartfelt invitation that says, "Welcome to your college!". Beyond its foundational impact on new learners, Bridge instills core values and leadership skills in our Student Peer Mentors, who carry those lessons forward in meaningful ways. Faculty gain valuable insight into the newest cohort of learners, while Education advisors and our support team work collaboratively to lay a solid foundation for each student's success. Bridge to BC is more than just a program; it's a tremendous joy to be part of and a true Renegade asset!”