# CSUSM Bridges to Baccalaureate

> **NIH NIH R25** · CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS · 2021 · $282,054

## Abstract

Project Summary
The CSUSM Bridges to the Baccalaureate (CSUSMB2B) program supports the NIH/NIGMS
goal of increasing the diversity of the biomedical workforce by increasing the successful transfer
rates of under-represented (UR) groups from community colleges to 4-year institutions. The
CSUSMB2B program, located in north San Diego County California, includes the partner
institutions of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), Palomar College and MiraCosta
College. This Bridges Program will focus on the academic development and seamless transfer
of Palomar and MiraCosta UR community college students to CSUSM, or other 4-year
institutions. The CSUSMB2B Program targets UR students early in their community college
attendance to enroll them in a structured 2-year academic and career development program.
By targeting UR students early in their schooling, a known high dropout period, the program
helps prepare them academically, creates individual development plans for successful
transferring, and helps foster their science identities through peer-mentoring and participation in
research activities. The specific aims of the CSUSMB2B Program are to: 1) create a large pool
of promising UR Bridges applicants through broad and proactive diversity recruitment activities;
2) empower Bridges students to successfully transfer to a 4-year institution, complete a BS/BA
degree, and ultimately a PhD in biomedical sciences, through newly designed curriculum,
Supplemental Instruction, academic support and skill workshops; 3) engage Bridges Scholars
in research including exposure to the diversity of biomedical fields, placement in faculty
research labs (often with UR peers or Bridges alumni), attendance of research seminars,
conferences and application to extramural summer research programs; 4) ensure efficient
transfer of Bridges Scholars to 4-year institutions through frequent advising and creation of
individual development plans and curricular activities; 5) vigorously track all Bridges Scholars for
15 years by using personal contacts, database platforms and career websites; and 6) assess
the success of our program through a comprehensive evaluation plan that tracks applicant and
Scholar metrics and success, evaluate science identity development, and compare Bridges
outcomes to a matched, anonymous group of non-participant students. Over the past 15 years,
the CSUSMB2B program has been very successful, averaging a 92% transfer rate to four-year
institutions, and 88%,16% and 14% have completed or are finishing a bachelors, masters or
doctoral degree respectively. The proposed program builds on the experience and institutional
support of these partner institutions to continue to support the mission of NIH/NIGMS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10221691
- **Project number:** 5R25GM066341-20
- **Recipient organization:** CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
- **Principal Investigator:** JANICE BAILEY
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $282,054
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-08-06 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10221691

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10221691, CSUSM Bridges to Baccalaureate (5R25GM066341-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10221691. Licensed CC0.

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