Bridges Multicultural Resource Center

In 1996, students from 5 original Recruitment & Retention Centers came together to recruit underrepresented students into higher education and retain current university students through programming and community. They designated that this student-initiated program would address and combat the effects of California’s Proposition 209 and the University of California’s Standing Policies 1 and 2 had within higher education. Since then, we have grown into 7 Recruitment & Retention Centers. Each year, our flagship recruitment programs: Senior Weekend and Transfer Weekend, bring in 500 and 200 newly admitted students. Each semester, we host Study Jams where we provide 11 free meals and wellness supplies to 1,200 students during week. These are only bridges-wide metrics—each RRC is involved in recruitment outreach and hosts retention programs, widening education accessibility to students beyond campus and providing mindfulness and wellness opportunities for current students. We strive to recruit first-generation, underrepresented students of color into higher education at all levels, and are committed to providing resources to retain these students. Through multicultural collaboration, bridges Multicultural Resource Center seeks to-Empower underrepresented, first generation students of color to pursue opportunities for post-secondary education -Provide support for newly admitted first year, transfer, as well as continuing and re-entry students of color -Increase cross-cultural dialogue and solidarity, cultural awareness, and political mobilization -Acquire the financial, institutional and physical resources to facilitate the work of member organizations