Scholar Sphere Leadership & Development Program
Summer Development Foundation Phase
Mississippi Valley State University offers the Scholar Sphere Summer Development Foundation Phase, commonly referred to as the Summer Development Program, as an intensive academic bridge experience designed to prepare students for successful entry into the university.
The program provides an opportunity for students who demonstrate strong potential but do not yet meet the regular admission criteria for the state’s public universities. Through this structured eight-week experience, students strengthen the academic skills and college readiness necessary to begin their first semester with confidence.
The program is residential in nature, and participants are expected to live on campus unless approved extenuating circumstances prevent them from doing so. Students engage in coursework focused on key academic areas, including English, mathematics, and reading, along with participation in an academic support laboratory designed to reinforce skill development.
Instruction is delivered through a comprehensive format that includes classroom instruction, academic seminars, computer-assisted tutorials, mentoring, and life-skills development. Classes are held Monday through Friday, with enrichment programming and structured activities offered on weekends to help students build leadership skills, connect with campus resources, and become familiar with university life.
While coursework completed during the Summer Development Foundation Phase does not count toward graduation credit, students who successfully meet program completion requirements will be eligible to enroll as first-time freshmen in the fall semester.
Students who complete the program also transition into the Scholar Sphere year-long academic support program, which provides continued academic monitoring, mentoring, and strategic support during the first year to promote persistence, progression, and long-term student success.