MDC Honors College

Bridges to the Future

The University of Miami and Miami Dade College have collaborated on the “Bridge to the Future Program” since 1994. The long-term goal of the program is to encourage students from underrepresented minorities to enter research careers in the biomedical sciences. Further, it is designed to improve the academic competitiveness of minority students at Miami Dade College (MDC) and facilitate their transition into the biomedical science at the University of Miami (UM.

The Bridge to the Future Program is funded and supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS). This funding provides students with scholarships to UM, student research experiences and faculty updating and training. The three key components of the Bridge Program are:

Research Experience
Special Courses
Information Technology

Student Benefits

Through The Bridge To The Future Program You Will Receive College Credit For Courses Taken At Um While In MDC, Be Paid For The Time That You Spend Doing Research In A Um Lab, Participate In Seminars And Other Special Presentations, And Lastly, Have The Opportunity To Compete For HHMI Transfer Scholarship To Um If You Maintain A 3.5 GPA Or Better At MDC.

Who Is Eligible To Apply

Applicants Must Be U.S. Citizens Or Have Permanent Residency Status. In Addition, Students Must Be Members Of An Underrepresented Minority. The National Institute Of Health (NIH) Defines Underrepresented Minorities As Hispanic, Black, Pacific Islander, And Native American.

Specific Activities For Bridge Students

Research Experiences

The Best Way To Learn Science Is By Doing It. All Bridge Students Are Required To Do Research With A Um Faculty Mentor Beginning Their Second Year. At The End Of This Year, Students Submit A Paper And Present Their Research At A Mini-Symposium, Which Is Attended By Faculty, Parents, And Friends.

Special Courses, Seminars & Workshops

High school/MDC Transition Course - This three-credit chemistry course is team taught by a UM and a MDC faculty member. Bridge students take this course on the UM campus in the summer before they enroll at MDC. Not only does the course give bridge students a competitive edge, it also gives these students a taste of university life. Biotechnology and Instrumentation Courses - In the Summer between the first and second year, all Bridge students must take a biotechnology course in the biology department at the MDC Kendall Campus. They also enroll in an instrumentation course in the chemistry department at the MDC North Campus. These courses provide state-of-the-art equipment for lab experiments and an opportunity for students to spend time on a MDC Campus that is different from where they normally take courses. This creates more bonding among the group. Emerging Scholar Workshop - First year students attend a two and a half-hour workshop in chemistry once a week on the UM Campus. The workshop is lead by the UM chemistry professor who teaches the Summer Transition Course. Students work cooperatively in small groups to solve problems that are more demanding than those encountered during typical class assignments.

Research Colloquium - On the first Monday of each month, when first year students are on the UM campus for the emerging scholarship workshop, second-year students join them to meet a visiting seminar speaker. The speaker will present his/her research as part of the biology department seminar series. The seminar speaker is generally a minority person who will discuss how he/she became interested in science and some of the challenges facing minorities in the profession. Later in the day, all students attend the departmental seminar. Genetics Course - Second-year students take this three-credit lecture course during their last summer at MDC on the UM campus. This sophomore course is required of all UM biology majors.

Information Technology

All Bridges students need to access the Internet for research related information and communications with their mentors, as well as each other. All MDC campuses are wired into the Internet with fiber optic cable. Through grant funds the number of computers for Bridge students has increased.

Founded in 1926, the UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI is the largest private research institution in the southern United States. UM is positioned to become a model of excellence in the recruitment, education and graduation of minority students in the biomedical sciences.

THE PARTNERS

MIAMI DADE COLLEGE is a two-year state supported community college with six campuses and numerous outreach centers. It’s one of the largest community colleges in the country and it is also one of the best.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

MDC students must attend the HS/MDC transition course at UM the summer before enrolling at MDC.
Students must take a biotechnology course in the biology department at MDC Kendall Campus, and an instrumentation course in the Chemistry department at MDC North Campus.
Students must attend the Emerging Scholar’s Workshop from 2:30-5:00pm every Monday at UM (Coral Gables Campus) during their first year.
During the students’ sophomore year (second year) students will meet once a month on Mondays, from 4:00-5:00pm at UM for research seminars.
Students will take a Genetics course at UM during the summer of the second year. This course is a UM credit course.
Students are required to do a minimum of two semesters of research in a UM lab before graduating from MDC.
Students are required to write a scientific paper based on their research experience. The result will be presented at a poster session at the end of the second year.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA while in the program.

HOW TO APPLY

Students must complete an application, submit high school transcripts and include two letters of recommendations from former teachers and/or counselor.

For application click here.

For brochure click here.

For further information contact:

MDC, Kendall Campus - Ms. Loretta Adoghe (305) 237-2861
MDC, North Campus - Dr. E. Carter Burrus, Jr. (305) 237-1107
MDC, Wolfson Campus - Ms. Virginia Fuillerat, (305) 237-7353
University of Miami - Dr. Michael Gaines (305) 384-3973