Bakersfield College Hosts ‘Bridge to BC’ to Jump Start Student Success

Monday, July 27, 2026

Each Summer, Bakersfield College invites more than 3,000 incoming students to participate in Bridge to BC. The interactive, one-day, in-person course is designed to help new students prepare academically, socially, and personally as they transition to college.

During the program, students get a tour of the campus, participate in workshops that introduce various student resources like Canvas and STARFISH, learn about the BC website, meet one-on-one with an educational advisor, and much more. Bridge to BC first launched in 2014, making this the 12th year that the program has been offered. Since its inception, more than 20,000 students have participated in the program.

Gio Ramirez is a current BC student and is working toward his Batchelor’s degree in Industrial Automation. He has also worked as a peer mentor at Bridge to BC for four years. He is excited to be helping new students prepare for college. “Bridge to BC is a really great program,” he said, “what we do is help students get the feel of what college is like, what to expect when they get to classes, how to register for courses – it really is a great way to get a better understanding of college life.” He also believes the event is a great benefit for new students. “The day is jammed packed with useful information,” he said, “students learn how Canvas works, where to get their books, where to get student ID’s – and we show them all of that and more. It is really good knowledge for them to have.” Gio has first-hand experience with the program, as he attended Bridge to BC when he first started college. “For me, going through the program was a huge help - attending the class put me at ease. I knew what to expect and had a better understanding of the campus and the available resources.”

The program is a fun way to get introduced to Bakersfield College and its campus, but there is a direct connection to a more positive student experience while at BC and greatly impacts student success. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness has tracked the Bridge to BC program for several years, and the data shows that participants in the program are three times more likely to complete their degrees in two years than their peers who did not participate.

More than 3,000 new students are expected to attend Bridge to BC this Summer. We are excited to welcome these new students and look forward to supporting them throughout their academic journey. Thank you to all the Bridge to BC directors, coordinators, instructors, mentors and everyone who helps make this program a huge success.