June 27, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vanderbilt’s Student-Athlete Academic Support (SAAS) department earned a national award this week when the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) recognized the Commodores’ academic staff for the athletic department’s Summer Bridge Program.
The N4A presented Vanderbilt’s SAAS office with the Academic Model Practices Award for the staff’s implementation of the Bridge Program’s simulated classroom environment. Nate Bell, Associate Director of Academic Support, and Dawnyell Fletcher, Assistant Director of Academic Support, ventured to Washington, D.C. this week to the 2018 N4A Convention to accept the award on behalf of the staff and present the program to the membership.
It was an honor to present and accept the @nfoura Model Practice Award with @fletch_ad on behalf of our whole @VandySAAS staff! We are privileged to work with some fantastic @vucommodores. #N4A18 #N4AinDC #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/7nI3ZngaVX
 Dr. Nate Bell (@drnatebell) June 26, 2018
Vanderbilt’s Bridge Program is a summer program that offers a variety of workshops designed to assist new student-athletes in their transition to Vanderbilt. Incoming first-year students participate in instructional sessions on topics ranging from academic integrity and college writing to financial management and mental health. The foundational elements of the Bridge Program involve large group presentations, small group discussions and weekly, written reflections. The students participate in the Bridge Program while enrolled in one or two summer courses at Vanderbilt.
“We started the Summer Bridge Program 10 years ago,” said Elizabeth Wright, Vanderbilt Assistant AD for Student Services and Director of Academic Support. “Over the years, our program has expanded and improved steadily. Our campus resources and partners – including the Office of Student Wellbeing, Campus Safety, Office of Student Accountability, Community Standards, and Academic Integrity, Financial Aid Office, Writing Studio, Librarians, LGBTQI Life, Student Recreation Center, Office of Immersion Resources, the Dean of the Commons, the Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director, and many Vanderbilt Faculty members – have been very generous with their time and supportive of our incoming student-athletes.
“The program culminates with a College Major and Minor Fair, with faculty representatives from 20 departments. Student-athletes have the opportunity to speak directly with faculty advisors from each department. Over the years, we have also adapted to the incoming student-athletes’ needs and learning styles, and have taken into account the feedback we received from students on surveys completed in prior summers. I think this summer we are in the midst of our best Summer Bridge Program yet. It has been very informative and interactive; the student-athletes express their appreciation weekly, in their Brightspace postings.”
“When we first started the Summer Bridge Program, I had absolutely no idea what we would do,” said Zach Drevno, a freshman with Vanderbilt football currently participating in Bridge. “I thought it was going to be boring. The first week of Bridge proved my preconceived notions wrong. We were taught skills and given tips that will help the fluidity of our college transition. Some of these included financial management, time management, and an interesting philosophical discussion with Vice Chancellor David Williams. I have really enjoyed my experience with Bridge.”
The N4A Model Practices Award is given annually to a N4A-affiliated university or college that displays best practices in their programming for student-athletes. This includes, but is not limited to, academic advising, academic integrity, disability services, target populations, learning specialists, tutoring, study hall/table, student-athlete affairs/life skills. The N4A gives out two Model Practices Awards awards each year, one in the area of academics and one in the area of student-athlete development. Winning institutions are given a recognition plaque and $500 honorarium.
