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Mission & Vision

TRiO Upward Bound Programs provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The programs provide opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Our programs serve high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. TRiO Upward Bound assists program participants through academic services, cultural enrichment activities, and individual counseling to become better prepared to enter and succeed in a post-secondary educational institution. Also, the program helps students acquire information regarding college (both in-state and out-of-state), explore career options, and select appropriate majors.

Upward Bound Goal

Our goal is to increase the rate at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of post-secondary education. The TRIO Upward Bound Programs consists of two components: academic year and summer. All services and activities are free. Upward Bound Projects provide academic instruction in mathematics, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, and foreign languages. Tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, work-study programs, education and counseling services are designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students. Services are available to students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in post-secondary education such as students with disabilities, students who are displaced, students who are in foster care, or other disconnected students.

Rules and Regulations

Students are expected to comply with the Upward Bound rules and regulations during both the Academic year and Summer components.

  • Only students in regular attendance during the Academic Year component will be allowed to participate in the Summer component.
  • If a student must be absent from Upward Bound, the student must present an official written excuse upon return. Three or more unexcused absences from the program can result in immediate dismissal from the Upward Bound Program.
  • There will be no gum chewing or eating during class or when there is a speaker present. Students must be in session for a full day to receive a stipend. Non-Upward Bound participants are not allowed to attend or become involved in regularly scheduled sessions/activities.
  • Alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or dangerous weapons are strictly prohibited. Any student found in possession of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or dangerous weapons will be dismissed from the Upward Bound program and escorted off campus by the campus police.
  • Fighting, obscene language, threatening other individuals, gambling, or theft is strictly prohibited. Any student found guilty of the above mentioned offenses will be placed on disciplinary probation or dismissed from the Upward Bound program.
  • Destroying or defacing campus property will not be tolerated.
  • Cellular phones, electronic devices and/or headphones are not allowed during class, workshops, seminars, presentations or counseling sessions.
  • A minimum level of academic performance, 2.5 grade point average, is expected of all participants for every grading period in order to continue to access program services on an uninterrupted basis.
  • During the summer component, no outside visitors other than parents/guardian are allowed on campus.
  • Summer component participants must be on their assigned floor of the dormitory by 10:00p.m. and must be in their assigned dorm room by 11:00p.m.
  • Summer component participants must return to the dormitory each Sunday, no earlier than 8:00p.m.
  • All Upward Bounders need to be picked up on time after our Friday cultural activity. Those left longer than an hour will not be allowed to attend the next week’s cultural activity. All keys must be given to the assigned tutor- mentor before leaving for the weekend.
  • Any participant who obtains three (3) discipline reports during the academic component of the program will not be eligible to participate in the summer component of the program.
  • Any participant who obtains three (3) discipline reports during the summer component of the program will be suspended for the remainder of the summer component and may or may not be eligible to return for the academic year.
  • Participants who obtain excessive discipline reports may be dismissed from the Upward Bound Program depending on the severity of the offense and/or the discretion of the Upward Bound staff.
  • Parents must notify the Director and/or Counselors in cases of emergency removal of a student from the Upward Bound Program.

All disciplinary cases will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the project director, and a full consultation with parents and/or significant care-givers will take place.

Counseling referrals will also be made as necessary so as to promote self-discipline and to encourage socially accepted behavior. It is the Upward Bound Program’s mission to retain and/or reclaim all participants to the extent possible and to offer guidance as they transition from secondary to higher education).

Stipends

Upward Bound students receive stipends based upon grade point averages and attendance. Students arriving to the program after the sessions have begun or students who do not complete the day will be penalized.

  • Excessive absences/tardiness
  • Failure to report for individual counseling sessions
  • No report cards
  • Displaying improper conduct