Are you a first-year student from an economically underrepresented community who’s interested in policy, but confused about how the industry really works? Or are you unsure about how to network, write a cover letter or resume, or find an internship? If so, you should apply to the Bridge to Batten program.
The program is built around 3 components: (1) a one-credit CR/NC spring seminar, (2) advising from faculty and professional staff at the Batten School, and (3) peer mentorship from Teaching Fellows (like me) who can give their genuine perspective on being students at the Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy.
Participants in the Bridge to Batten program get the unique opportunity to delve deeper into the policy sphere, and they get a head-start on many of the same concepts I study as a current student.
During our in-class seminar, topics and activities ranged widely from discussions about how to succeed in a professional world where economically disadvantaged students haven’t always been given the rules of the game, to class picnics and field days.
Another element of Bridge to Batten that I love is that first-year students are given the opportunity to listen and learn from leaders at our university who come from similar backgrounds. During our discussion of Financial Aid Policy at UVA, we had Steve Kimata, the former Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services, come to class and speak to the policy nuances involved in funding allocations for students.
Kimata also shared about his personal journey as a first-generation college student, reflecting on how his parents’ Japanese culture and upbringing instilled in him a sense of duty to be the prototypical first-born responsible son. Kimata revealed that because of this pressure, he felt that any mistakes he made were magnified and compounded with the pressure of attempting to be the first person in his family to graduate college.
This candid reflection added so much depth to our understanding of the challenges faced by students in economically disadvantaged situations, highlighting the intersectionality of culture and education. Not only was Kimata interested in hearing feedback based on Bridge to Batten students’ experiences, he was also transparent about the realities of aid disbursement. Conversations like these are a unique experience to meet with university leaders face-to-face and have them address the presumptions that make up their work.
These conversations aren’t just about giving students the keys to success, but about creating a communal space to vent, breathe and learn from and with one another.
Teaching Fellows also host office hours over free lunches or coffee so that we can surpass a surface-level exploration of topics with students and grow to understand them as people, which helps us support them the best we can.
To this end, Bridge to Batten doesn’t just end after the semester is finished. Students in the program receive priority registration in UVA Batten prerequisites and continue to receive individualized, tailored advising after the seminar has concluded.
Lastly, if you participate in Bridge to Batten and decide you don’t want to apply to any of UVA Batten’s degree programs, that’s okay. As much as I want every student who participates to explore the community, my job as a Teaching Fellow in the class is to help you find your path forward, and whether that includes UVA Batten is completely up to you.
Applications for the next Spring 2027 cohort of Bridge to Batten are now open, and the priority deadline for consideration is November 2, 2026. For more on Bridge to Batten, visit the webpage to learn how to embark on your next transformative journey with UVA Batten!
