1 of 23

​

Diversity, Community, Identity: �Surprising Outcomes in U.C. Berkeley’s PreCore Transfer Bridge Program

Ryan Sloan

College Writing Programs /

Haas School of Business

University of California, Berkeley

rsloan@berkeley.edu / rrsloan.com

2 of 23

Haas Berkeley PreCore: transfer bridge program for incoming juniors

2013: 12 students

​

2021: 88 students

3 of 23

Diversity, community, and inclusion

​

how might PreCore’s success be replicated at other institutions?

​

4 of 23

Erika Walker, Senior Assistant Dean

​

“PreCore focuses on building cohort and knowledge of resources as a value add to the curriculum.

​

We see this program as a great bridge to help community college students transition into the Berkeley academic rigor and workload.”

5 of 23

CC transfer students at Haas, pre-2013:

​

  • very diverse, highly ambitious

​

​

6 of 23

CC transfer students at Haas, pre-2013:

​

  • very diverse, highly ambitious
  • less likely to perform as well as continuing 4-year Cal students

​

  • academic probation issues & often less competitive in internships / jobs

​

  • double bind of transfer student dislocation plus lack of integration into a very competitive cohort

7 of 23

PreCore: 6-week intensive

Professional Communications Practicum

Quantitative Business Skills

Industry Workshops, Networking Practice, Community Building, Bonding

8 of 23

PreCore in student leadership means diverse perspectives

9 of 23

And diversity is key

​

PreCore:

​

  • Latinx & Black representation
  • Military veterans
  • International students [Kenya, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Israel, and more]
  • First generation, working class, & non-traditional returning students

10 of 23

Professional Communications Practicum:

Flipped, multimodal, experiential model

Flexible Classroom

blending high-tech tools

11 of 23

With boxes of craft supplies

​

12 of 23

(So many boxes of craft supplies)

​

13 of 23

Flexible seat configurations

Walls & huddleboards on which students write, ideate, storyboard, present

14 of 23

Challenge: highly varied skillsets

​

Importance of designing (and iterating):

​

  • “useful” projects & scaffolded, integrated work
    • Pre-Professionalization Module
    • Business Skills Module
    • Capstone Module

​

  • generative small-group, partner, and individual feedback structures

​

  • low-stakes opportunities for risk-taking

15 of 23

Workshops, Networking, Guests:

  • Career Center & Haas Alumni office
  • Recruiters from industry
  • PreCore alums: rising seniors & recent grads

16 of 23

Secret sauce:

​

sustained culture of support & outreach

​

17 of 23

Outreach & Credibility

PreCore seniors & alums volunteer for:

  • community college campus visits
  • email outreach
  • phone calls & Cal visits for newly accepted transfers into the Haas business school

​

Culture

Guiding Principle: “Beyond Yourself”

18 of 23

Victor: PreCore 2014, Google

​

19 of 23

Angad: PreCore 2015, J.P. Morgan

​

20 of 23

Student testimonials

​

21 of 23

Student testimonials

​

  • “One of the best decisions that I have made”
  • ​
  • “There were so many useful things that I gained from this course, such as interview skills, business writing, excel practice, and public speaking.”
  • ​
  • “This gave me a great chance to hone practical skills, which I will be utilizing for the rest of my life.”
  • ​
  • “The sense of community I developed with my classmates is invaluable. Spending over seventeen hours a week for six weeks with these bright, motivated leaders was a privilege.”
  • ​
  • “In the span of six weeks, I gained a wealth of invaluable information applicable to my academic, professional, and social life, and formed strong relationships within the PreCore cohort.”
  • ​
  • “I strongly encourage future students to take full advantage of such a unique and worthwhile opportunity”

22 of 23

Best Practices & Takeaways

Is any of this replicable?

​

  • Useful skills & genres for students scaffolded with clear outcomes for writing, speaking, critical thinking & professionalization
  • ​
  • Flexibility & adaptability to shifting needs
  • ​
  • ⅔ classroom structure, ⅓ team-building
  • ​
  • Emphasis on ‘Beyond Yourself’: giving back, reaching out, identity rooted in inclusivity, community & diversity
  • ​
  • Trusting students to lead

23 of 23

​

For further info:

Ryan Sloan

College Writing Programs / Haas School of Business

University of California, Berkeley

rsloan@berkeley.edu / rrsloan.com