BPCC Bridge program
The BPCC Bridge program is a two-year vocational training program for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) that provides an inclusive post-secondary experience. The BPCC Bridge program combines academic and job skills training on BPCC’s campus with externship opportunities at regional businesses. The ultimate goal of The BPCC Bridge is to empower students to achieve their educational, vocational, and personal aspirations and promote their full participation in society as independent and productive individuals. Students must be 18-28 years old to participate.
Requirements for participating in the BPCC Bridge Program include:
- Be 18-28 years old or turning 18 within the first 8 weeks of a semester and retain full legal rights
- Participate in a personal interview and interest assessment prior to acceptance into the program
- Honestly express a clear desire to become gainfully employed
- Be able and willing to engage in program participation as one would a job
- Regularly meet with BPCC Bridge staff members
- Meet attendance and reporting standards that exceed that of typical students in preparation for employment
- At minimum: Be able to participate in at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours per week on campus to include classes, meetings, and extracurricular activities and
- Be able and willing to participate in social engagement on campus and in the community
- The amount of time participating in social engagements can be expected to increase over time while essential skills instruction and program support can be expected to fade over time coinciding with demonstrated skills growth
- Be willing and able to participate in and complete non-optional internships (on or off campus) [It is the student’s responsibility to contact their SSI benefits counselor to determine how their SSI benefits would be impacted by paid internships/employment.]
- Provide proof of a diagnosis of Intellectual/Development Disability and/or Autism. (See BPCC Disability Services Required Documentation)
- Be able to independently navigate campus after specific skills development/training
- Be able to provide self-care with medications or special diets
- Be able to use technology independently to access grades, assignments (BPCC student emails, MyBPCC (Canvas), LOLA, etc.)
- Be able to communicate their needs effectively to BPCC Bridge staff, course instructors, and other relevant BPCC faculty and staff
- Receive, at a minimum, a 4th grade reading comprehension level on the TABE Reading Comprehension assessment
- Adhere to the BPCC Code of Student Conduct
- Complete the BPCC application for admission
- If a Personal Care Attendance (PCA) is required, then the PCA must complete a volunteer application with BPCC and receive advanced approval to attend each class with students [This advanced approval is completed through BPCC’s Disability Services] Note: PCAs must adhere to the BPCC Code of Conduct.
All of the courses offered through participation in The BPCC Bridge program are part of Bossier Parish Community College’s general course offerings, and, thus, open to all BPCC students. As participants in campus life, BPCC Bridge students will have the opportunity to be a part of the entirety of the college experience both academically and socially. The BPCC Bridge Program will offer participating students the option of engaging with student peer mentors. These student peer mentors will assist BPCC Bridge Program students in their engagement with extracurricular events and activities across BPCC’s campus and social life. Additionally, independent living skills and training in self-advocacy will be supported to enrich each student’s experience and improve individual achievements and outcomes.
Students who successfully complete the program will earn a BPCC Bridge Certificate of Completion, at least one industry-based credential, and they can participate in BPCC’s commencement ceremony.
See the BPCC Bridge Handbook for more information.
Successful Completion Requirements
- Eight (8) classes for twenty-four (24) credit hours. These classes can be taken for credit or audited. If courses are audited, then modified assignments tied to both course content and specific career and/or life goals must be included and outlined on the individual program of study. The course of study (8 classes) will be individually determined with consideration for individual student goals.
- Three supervised work-based learning experiences (WBLEs) that are related to each individual student’s career goals. [It is the student’s responsibility to contact their SSI benefits counselor to determine how their SSI benefits would be impacted by paid employment.]
- A student portfolio of accomplishments is required for completion of the BPCC Bridge program. The portfolio will include examples of assignments or projects from courses taken for credit; modified course assignments or projects for audited classes; examples of skills obtained through internships, earned Industry Based Credentials (IBCs). The portfolio may also include examples of leadership or service-learning activities on campus or in the community, extracurricular involvement, or any other example related to the student’s goals and program completion.
- Complete and submit the BPCC Bridge Application.
- Once the application has been submitted and after a careful review of your application, you will receive a telephone call and/or email from the BPCC Bridge office to set up an interview and initial assessment date and time. The interview and assessment will be conducted with a BPCC Bridge staff member and only the student. Parents, guardians, family members, and/or caregivers can wait in the lobby until the interview and assessment process has been completed.
- After a review period, the student will receive an admissions decision via email.
- Review Funding Sources tab for financial assistance information.
The BPCC Bridge follows BPCC’s fall and spring calendars.
- Fall Semester: August through December (Fall semester applications due by April)
- Spring Semester: January through May (Spring semester applications due by October)
**A complete and submitted application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.**
BPCC Bridge Semester Breakdown
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Two (2) Classes for Six (6) credit hours (credit or audit) | Two (2) Classes for Six (6) credit hours (credit or audit) |
| Work-based Learning Experience #1 | |
| Year 2 | |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Two (2) Classes for Six (6) credit hours (credit or audit) | Two (2) Classes for Six (6) credit hours (credit or audit) |
| WBLE #2 | WBLE #2 – if not completed in fall semester or optional WBLE #3 |
**WBLE stands for Work-Based Learning Experience
BPCC Bridge Core Classes
| Class | Class Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CTEC 100 | Computer Concepts | 3 |
| FYSE 100 | First Year Student Experience | 3 |
| SPCH 115 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| HMAN 203 | Film and Culture | 3 |
| BADM 102 | Customer Service Skills | 3 |
BPCC Bridge Sample Curriculum
| Year 1 - Fall | Year 1 - Spring | Year 2 - Fall | Year 2 - Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| FYSE 100 – First Year Student Experience (3) | CTEC 100 – Computer Concepts (3) | Career Pathway Elective (3) | Career Pathway Elective (3) |
| SPCH 115 – Interpersonal Communication (3) | BADM 102 – Customer Service Skills (3) | HMAN 203 – Film and Culture (3) | Career Pathway Elective (3) |
| 6 credit hours | 6 credit hours | 6 credit hours | 6 credit hours |
All courses listed are existing courses in the Bossier Parish Community College catalog and open to all students.
The minimum number of credit hours a BPCC Bridge student must take is six (6) credit hours per semester. Additionally, the student will be required to engage in at least one (1) WBLE per academic year. Based upon number of credit hours and the WBLE requirements, it should take a student two (2) years to successfully complete the BPCC Bridge.
Students can stay a maximum of 60 days at each internship and/or WBLE. [This maximum can be expanded at the request of an individual employer.]
The program fee is $2,304 per semester. Paying for the BPCC Bridge can be a challenging part of earning your certificate, but it does not have to be. Below are some financial options for your planning, and we are here to help you find the best options for your situation. Contact Wardena Jenkins at 318-678-6506 or wjenkins@bpcc.edu for more information.
LOUISIANA REHABILITATION SERVICES
We strongly urge you to contact Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) at 225-295-8900 as soon as possible; AFTER you have submitted your BPCC Bridge application to set up a meeting with a LRS counselor. LRS provides vocational rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in their desire to obtain, maintain, or advance in competitive integrated employment and/or achieve independence in their community. College or University training is often a vital part of that process and LRS may be able to help fund postsecondary training.
PLEASE NOTE: If LRS is the primary source of a student’s funding, and a decision has not been made PRIOR to the start of the semester, students will be placed on a waiting list for the next semester unless another funding source is obtained.
To ensure a productive meeting with LRS, we recommend that you bring the following documents with you when you meet with your LRS counselor for the first time to expedite the processing of your LRS file. The following list is available for download.
- Social Security Card
- Picture ID, such as Driver’s license or state issued ID card
- Names and addresses of all doctors, psychologists, clinics or hospitals who are familiar with your disability
- A list of all medications you are currently taking
- A list of any jobs you have had, including the names and addresses of employers and the approximately date of your employment. Include a description of the kind of work you did, the number of hours worked per week, your salary, and your reason(s) for leaving the job(s).
- The names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses (if available)of at least two (2) people who do not live in your household who will always know how to reach you.
- If you receive SSDI and/or SSI benefits, bring a copy of your current award letter from Social Security.
Higher Education Opportunity Act
Changes in the Higher Education Act have made it possible for eligible students with intellectual disabilities to receive federal financial aid when they are attending an approved Comprehensive Transition Program or CTP, even if they do not have a regular high school diploma and are not matriculating towards a degree. A CTP, like the BPCC Bridge program, is an educational initiative designed to support students with exceptionalities as they transition from high school to post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.
Who is eligible for financial aid given the changes to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)?
There are four criteria that must be met.
- The student must have exited their high school. This means that students who are dually enrolled, or still receiving services from their high school, cannot receive financial aid.
- The student has to have an intellectual disability as defined by the HEOA. The definition reads:
- A student —
- With a cognitive impairment, characterized by significant limitations in—intellectual and cognitive functioning; and
- adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills; and
- Who is currently, or was formerly, eligible for a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- A student —
- The student and their family must demonstrate financial need via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students who wish to access financial aid must complete the FAFSA.
- The student must be attending an approved CTP. This means the college or university hosting the program has received approval from the Department of Education to offer financial aid to eligible students. A list of approved CTPs can be found here: Louisiana's Approved CTP Programs
The anticipated outcomes for students participating in the BPCC Bridge program:
- Gainful employment – Students who complete the BPCC Bridge will be better prepared for gainful employment through the obtainment of job readiness skills, knowledge of work etiquette, and other skills specific to their chosen career and life goals.
- Development of Positive Social Skills – Through a student’s participation in a fully inclusive college experience, the BPCC Bridge student will gain interpersonal skills that will benefit them both vocationally and socially. This will be measured qualitatively using pre- and post-program interviews.
- Stronger sense of self-worth and greater self-esteem – The very act of completing the coursework needed to receive the BPCC Bridge certificate will provide students with a greater sense of self-worth and self-esteem. BPCC Bridge students will have supports including mentors, advisors, BPCC Bridge staff, and other resources. However, a goal of participating in this program is that the students will become increasingly more independent. This independence should expand beyond the college setting and into other aspects of the student’s life. This will be measured qualitatively using pre- and post-program interviews.