$2.2 Million Donation Fuels Next Phase of Berklee Bridge

Berklee has received a $2.2 million donation to fund the ongoing development of the Berklee Bridge, the student success initiative that connects each student with a dedicated success advisor, a network of specialty advisors, and comprehensive resources aimed at empowering students to reach their personal, artistic, and professional goals.

Gifted by an anonymous foundation, this donation will build on previous significant advancements to the platform by expanding each student’s assigned Bridge team, integrating major and career advisors. These specialists will work in collaboration with student success advisors to ensure more robust and personalized academic paths and targeted career development based on individual student priorities. By improving data sharing and streamlining communication between advisors, team members will have a complete, real-time view of each student’s journey, ensuring enhanced tracking of their achievements, more proactive interventions, and better post-graduation outcomes.

The next phase of upgrades also includes the development and integration of AI-powered predictive analytics and student insights that promote early intervention strategies to proactively support students. This technology is an expansion of advising models piloted through Berklee Online.

Since its launch in fall 2022, the Berklee Bridge has driven steady improvements across several key areas, including retention and graduation rates. Engagement with advising services increased significantly over the same period with 100 percent of new students and 86 percent of continuing students scheduling at least one appointment with an advisor in the 2023–2024 academic year. On-time degree declaration increased by 39 percent in the first year of the initiative, a key milestone associated with improved graduation outcomes, with levels rising up to 40 percent in 2023–2024 and 42 percent in 2024–2025 from the start of the program.

“The Berklee Bridge program is at the core of our commitment to a future-forward learning environment that supports every facet of the student experience, from addressing immediate needs to attaining long-term goals,” said Christopher Kandus, interim vice president of enrollment management and student success. 

“We are extremely grateful for the continued support and generosity of our donor partner who has helped us advance our vision of a student success platform built to help every student realize their full potential,” Kandus added. “We are also indebted to the many members of the community who have contributed to the ongoing development of the Berklee Bridge and have enabled us to embrace new technologies while leveraging the elite talent that makes our institution unique.”

To learn more about how the Berklee Bridge is transforming the student experience, visit berklee.edu/bridge.