Bridging Success: How Business Bridge Week Prepares First-Year Students at MBS

Nearly 300 first-year students moved onto campus a week before classes began to participate in our Business Bridge Week. This six-day event is designed to build connections, foster community, and ease new students’ transition into college life.

From 9 am to 5 pm daily, students are immersed in various activities that blend academic and social engagement. Educational sessions include the Importance of Impressions series, Campus Tech 101, mindfulness exercises, and personal stories shared by our Bridge Week Peer Leaders. Social events, like the MBS Carnival, Mini Student Org Fair, and a campus-wide scavenger hunt, keep the energy high and help students start forming friendships right from the start.

“We are incredibly intentional with our programming, ensuring that it all relates to our core goals: building community, creating connections among students, and easing students’ transition to the University of Maine,” says Julia Van Steenberghe, Director of Student Success and Recruitment for the Maine Business School.

Bridge Week’s tie to the MBS first-year Research Learning Experience makes it especially valuable. Every incoming business student enrolls in a course incorporating hands-on research and critical business skills. Whether students are learning how to launch their side hustle with Dr. Jason Harkins or solving real-world business problems for local nonprofits with Professor Matt Skaves, they’re actively engaged from day one. The course includes lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays, with smaller cohort groups meeting on Fridays led by Peer Leaders.

“Student engagement in Bridge Week connects them to the Maine Business School community and prepares them for their first semester in college,” says Dr. Jason Harkins, Executive Dean of the Maine Business School. “Combining MBS’s robust, rigorous, and relevant education with the Bridge Week experience has meaningfully impacted their success.” In fact, 91% of the fall 2024 cohort reported making at least one meaningful connection through Bridge Week, and 75% felt that Bridge Week gave them a sense of belonging to the Maine Business School.

A major highlight of the week is the day-long trip to the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC) in Millinocket, Maine. Students can choose between thrilling activities like whitewater rafting and hiking or simply socializing and relaxing at base camp. It’s a memorable day that brings the class closer together, giving them a break from campus while forging new connections in a gorgeous part of Maine many have never experienced.

“The trip to NEOC helped me connect more with the Bridge Week experience, allowing me to meet new people, take on new challenges, and realize that I truly have a home at the Maine Business School,” says Tyliah Powell, a student from Connecticut. “The hike up Trout Mountain was an unforgettable experience. Hiking in Maine is something I had never experienced. While the hike was tough, I made many connections with professors, other business students, and my academic advisor on the trail.”

Nastassja DeLoge from Bath, Maine, had a similar relationship-building experience. “Spending time together at base camp after the whitewater rafting trip helped me establish closer friendships,” she says. “Even though I’ve lived in Maine my whole life, being at NEOC reminded me of the state’s incredible beauty and the variety it offers. The experience made me feel more connected to MBS, as it played a significant role in my Bridge Week and helped ease my transition into college life.”

Business Bridge Week is only possible with the dedication of our Peer Leaders. Julia Van Steenberghe, who oversees Bridge Week, worked closely with two students throughout the spring and summer to meticulously plan every program detail. Molly Graham, a sophomore majoring in Finance, was one of those students.

Molly’s motivation to get involved came from her own transformative experience as a Bridge Week participant the year before. As a resident of Somerset Hall, the Business Living Learning Community where most first-year students live, Molly connected with older MBS Ambassadors and Peer Leaders who organized social programming in the residence hall. “These older students became my mentors,” she explains. “I wanted to be that person for someone else.”

This year, Molly is one of 20 Peer Leaders who worked throughout Bridge Week, helping to build relationships with incoming students and shape a supportive community. These Peer Leaders also lead Friday cohort classes, guiding first-year students in small group discussions, activities, and reflections on their early college experiences.

“MBS Peer Leaders are academic leaders, mentors, sounding boards, and a resource for their cohort,” Van Steenberghe says. “Whether students have questions about their class project, need help navigating BrightSpace, or want to know how to secure tickets to a hockey game, their PL is a source for that information.” 

Not only does Business Bridge Week create a welcoming environment for first-year students, but it also provides meaningful leadership and employment opportunities for older students. The Peer Leaders and MBS Ambassadors undergo rigorous training in preparation for Bridge Week, which helps them grow as mentors and enhance their professional development skills.

Through this program, MBS is not just preparing first-year students for success in college and beyond—they’re cultivating future business leaders among older students, too.