A Precollege Summer Enrichment Chemistry Workshop and Its Impact on Student Progression and Success

We describe the Summer Enrichment Chemistry Workshop (SECW), a unique program in its dual role as both a bridge and a revised placement program. The SECW is a tuition-free, six-week summer program designed for first-time college students who have received a preparatory placement in chemistry. This course offers an opportunity for performance-based revised placement. Students who successfully complete the workshop may take General Chemistry 1 or Comprehensive General and Organic Chemistry. The workshop is held at an urban R1 research university in the Midwest, which has strong affiliations with a hospital and a health sciences system. The workshop focuses on foundational skills necessary for success in a first-semester general chemistry course. Emphasis is placed on mastering chemical vocabulary and concepts and applying them with basic math skills to solve diverse problems. In this paper, we examine the workshop’s structure and goals, highlighting its distinctive features and impact on student success, including graduation rates, STEM retention, and lower DFW (D-grade, fail, or withdrawal) rates in General Chemistry I. Notably, student interviews revealed unanticipated benefits such as enhanced academic preparedness, confidence, mindset, sense of belonging, and placement outcomes, even in the absence of formal grading.