Twenty-six years ago, the New Start program began bridging the gap between high school and college academics.

New Start began as a program to help minority students with poor academic records - but a lot of potential - get into the university, said Salomon Baldenegro, assistant dean for Hispanic student affairs.

As a student in 1969, Baldenegro was one of the founders of New Start. Over the years, the program has evolved into a cross between freshman orientation and summer school.

New Start is a six-week program that includes orientation basics such as math and English placement exams, campus tours and fall registration.

However, New Start goes beyond orientation in many ways, including:

• A three-unit course in math, English or anthropology
• Daily tutoring sessions
• Peer advisors who teach college survival
• An academic conference that gives students the chance to prepare and present original research projects
• A writers series featuring visiting authors
• Social events

"New Start is designed to create a foundation for students to build on ... It is an environment conducive to helping each other," said Ann Bowen, New Start coordinator.

The program is promoted by word-of-mouth, contact with high school counselors and the center for minority recruitment and retention, Bowen said.

New Start accepts 450 students each summer and is open to ethnic minorities and those Caucasians who receive need-based financial aid.

One student, Jia Lee, said after the first week, "It's great. I think it's really going to help me."

Lee also said that if he had jumped headfirst into fall semester, "there would have been so much confusion."

Confusion and isolation can be two of the biggest problems for New Start students. Many of these students are from a culture where asking for help isn't accepted. Therefore, New Start tries to develop a "sense of community," Bowen said.

Statistics on retention rates suggest New Start is succeeding. Participant retention rates range from 74 percent to 77 percent, while the nonparticipant rate is about 69 percent. These numbers track students through their fourth year at the university.

"I don't think I would have survived my first year of college without the program," said Ann Grijalva, New Start coordinator and recent university graduate.

Past and present students have nothing but praise for the program.

"Everything is great. I am learning more than if I were on my own," said Reginald Wooley, a current New Start student.

New Start began as the idea of a few students committed to helping others, Baldenegro said. He said the program has grown and changed in many ways in 27 years, but that same commitment is still the driving force behind the program.