Bridge Experience Reports

The Bridge Experience Program will launch Virginia Tech’s plan for all undergraduate students to learn experientially through place-based opportunities and to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities for success in their future endeavors. This student learning initiative empowers disciplinary faculty to implement a bridge experience requirement connecting students’ disciplinary knowledge and skills to an experience aligned with their post-graduation goals using research-based learning processes.

Typical bridge experiences include undergraduate research, internships, and other place-based experiences. Students will take initiative to identify the right experience for their personal aspirations and goals, will be mentored as they learn, will reflect on their individual growth, and will showcase their learning. Virginia Tech’s goal is for 50% of undergraduate degrees to include a bridge experience requirement in five years.

Learning Outcomes

The Bridge Experience Program outcomes were informed by exemplary degree programs, institutional data, and educational literature. Successful program implementation will address increasing participation and learning quality for bridge experiences. Participation gaps will be addressed through curricular requirements creating inescapable opportunities. Students completing a bridge experience will be able to

Apply and connect their learning across academic and professional settings
Demonstrate professional self-awareness by articulating their personal and professional development
Demonstrate a dedication to using their knowledge, skills, and talents in service to others, communities, and their field

Resources

Highlights from the 2023-24 Annual Report

Figure 1. Undergraduate Degrees with Bridge Requirement (Progress vs. Target)

This line graph shows the number of undergraduate degrees with Bridge requirements from before 2022 through 2026–27 (planned). No new degree requirements were added in 2023–24, but departmental engagement grew significantly, including participation from the entire College of Engineering. Seven new Bridge requirements were approved for 2024–25, positioning the university to meet—and likely exceed—its goal of 50 percent of undergraduate degrees including Bridge requirements by 2026–27.

Figure 2. Bridge Participants by Experience and Major

Bridge participants by experience and major (ALCE, ARCH, BCHM, CEE, CHEM, CS, ENGL, SPIA). — This graph demonstrates participation trends across majors and experiential learning types, underscoring multidisciplinary engagement across Virginia Tech programs.

Figure 3. Type of Bridge Experience

Distribution of bridge experiences by type (internship, research, service learning, study abroad). — This pie chart illustrates that most student experiences were internships (59 percent) and study abroad (33 percent), highlighting the need for clearer guidance in categorizing experience types.