By Philip Sikes, communications director, Student Affairs
The Bridge to Clemson program has officially adopted a new on-campus home community for its students. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Lightsey Bridge apartments will house nearly 850 students making the commute to nearby Tri-County Technical College for classes.
“This change provides for the best possible future on-campus growth of the program,” said Almeda Jacks, vice president for Student Affairs. “Eighty percent of Bridge students become full-time Clemson students as sophomores. The program provides a great opportunity for more South Carolina residents to experience Clemson. The goal with requiring Bridge students to live on campus is the same for first-year Clemson students, to acclimate them to campus life and set them up for success. The infrastructure at Lightsey Bridge provides significant space to grow the Bridge program.”
Bridge students enroll in fall semesters at Tri-County as freshmen. To be admitted to Clemson as a sophomore, Bridge students are required to earn a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours with a 2.5 grade point average. Bridge participants enjoy many of the same opportunities as Clemson students.
University Housing & Dining will adjust the RA-to-resident ratio in Lightsey Bridge apartments, from 1-to-40 to 1-to-25, to accommodate for the change. The greater number of resident assistants will create a staff structure similar to that of a traditional freshman residence hall.
Douthit Hills East will now be a community available to first-year Clemson students. This community was intentionally designed to increase student engagement and support academic success with study spaces, classrooms, meeting rooms and common social spaces. Students living in Douthit East will enjoy a construction design that is similar to Core Campus building A. The three buildings house 750 students in double and single room units, with a semi-private bathroom design.
