The University of Minnesota Morris Gateway Program is a three-week residential summer bridge program for incoming first-year students extending from mid-July to early August.
Gateway provides an opportunity before your first semester at UMN Morris for you to
- sharpen your academic writing and data analysis skills,
- develop your strategies for time and stress management,
- learn about co-curricular opportunities and student support resources on campus, and
- develop a community of peers and mentors.
It's useful to know the following before signing up for the Gateway Program:
- Housing and meals throughout the program are provided at no cost to you.
- You must complete all parts of the program to receive college credit.
- You can enroll in the program by directly emailing Clement Loo or by filling out the sign-up form.
You will gain many benefits as a Gateway Scholar, including opportunities to
- further strengthen your academic writing and data analysis skills before the beginning of the semester;
- develop tools and skills for time and stress management;
- learn about opportunities related to leadership, work study, recreation, and culture on campus;
- work with faculty, staff, and peer mentors to consider how you might best use the opportunities available at UMN Morris to achieve your long-term career and life goals;
- meet and get to know faculty, staff, and other students who will help you become more successful as a student and a leader;
- build friendships and a community on campus before starting the academic year;
- become familiar with campus;
- join a community of hundreds of previous Gateway Scholars who have higher persistence and graduation rates when compared to students who did not participate in Gateway;
- earn four college credits at no cost to you; and
- have fun!
Program format
- Three-week-long summer residential bridge program extending from mid-July to early August
- 30 to 40 Gateway scholars per year, assigned to cohorts of approximately five students each, with a peer mentor who is among the most successful current UMN Morris students
Program objectives
Gateway is designed to give you a head start in developing scholarly and leadership skills at the college level, become more familiar with campus, and, most importantly, develop a social network with peers and a support network of staff and faculty.
Program activities
- Classes in quantitative literacy, academic writing, wellness, and leadership and student success skills
- Workshops about campus culture, engagement and co-curricular opportunities, and managing time and finances
- Cultural and social programming (culture hours, meals featuring cultural foods cooked by Gateway participants, game nights, murder mysteries, art nights, dances, intramural sports, field trips, etc.)
- Opportunities to meet faculty, staff, and leaders from student organizations
- Mentorship from peer mentors, program coordinator, program faculty, and student success and support staff from across campus
- Living together in one of UMN Morris's residence halls and building community with a cohort of other Gateway students during the program
Typical Gateway Daily Schedule
8–9 a.m.—Breakfast in the campus dining hall
9–10:20 a.m.—English/writing class
10:30–11:50 a.m.—Positive psychology class
12–1 p.m.—Lunch in the campus dining hall
1–2:20 p.m.—Quantitative literacy class
2:30–3 p.m.— Free time
3–4:30 p.m.—Community engagement project
4:30–5 p.m.—Free time
5–5:30 p.m.—Dinner in the campus dining hall
5:30–6:30 p.m.—Free time
6:30–8:30 p.m.—Homework
- Business casual clothing
- Clothing suitable for outdoor activities
- Swimwear
- Clothing suitable for painting or doing potentially messy laboratory activities
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Bedding (blankets, sheets, pillows)
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Shower sandals
- Shower caddy
- Regular toiletries
- Hygiene supplies
- Basic school supplies
- Medications
- Backpack
- A sense of adventure
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