What Is Upward Bound?

• Upward Bound is a year-round program for motivated students with academic potential who want to continue their education after high school.
• Upward Bound provides many services such as academic tutoring, peer-mentoring, counseling, assistance in obtaining financial aid, on-campus summer programs, field trips, cultural enrichment opportunities and ACT/SAT preparation.
• Students in the Upward Bound Program are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in Upward Bound.
• Upward Bound assists students whose talents and skills might otherwise be lost.
• There is no cost to participate in Upward Bound. In fact, the program offers a monthly allowance to each of the students who are involved.

Who is Eligible for Upward Bound?

To be admitted into the Upward Bound Program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Students must be in grades 9 or 10 to apply.
• The student's family income must meet federal requirements.

AND/OR

• Students who come from families in which neither parent has completed a four-year degree (first-generation college students).
• You must be attending school in one of the following school districts:

Alpine - Presidio - Terlingua

Fort Stockton - Marfa - Van Horn

Selection is also based on recommendation from teachers and counselors, grades, test scores, and a personal interview.

Upward Bound helps young people prepare for higher education. Participants will receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics, and science. Student services will be provided by program tutors at respective high schools weekly during the school year. Similar services will be provided at Sul Ross one Saturday per month and during the summer component.

Applying for Upward Bound

Prospective participants should first fill out the Eligibility Form, which is available online. Once eligibility is determined, prospects should complete the Application for Admission form, which is available in PDF format.

Activities

Upward Bound is a year-round program. During the school year, students will meet weekly with a tutor, mentor, and counselor. These individual sessions are based on the individual needs of each student. In determining their needs, the counselors will evaluate the students on the following: academics, guidance, selecting a college, scholarship searches and/or career exploration.

During the summer, Upward Bound students will live in the residence halls at Sul Ross State University for five weeks. All students take classes that emphasize skills needed for success in college. Also, elective classes, recreation, field trips, and career exploration will be offered.

What Else?

Cultural enrichment, recreation, and group activities are designed to promote interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all people. Some of the activities will include picnics, field trips, sports, tours, and other student organized activities. The activities are scheduled to meet the needs of the students and are designed to serve as reinforcements of various student scademic, social and cultural interests.

TRIO

Congress established the TRIO programs in 1965 to help low-income Americans enter post secondary education, graduate, and participate more fully in America's economic social life.

TRIO programs, such as Upward Bound, target high-risk students: students whose parents have never completed a four-year college program (referred to as first-generation) and/or students who meet federal financial guidelines. These programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education through grants provided to institutions or agencies having the facilities and expenses to deliver prescribed services.

Non-Discrimination Statement

No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to descrimination under, any program or activity sponsored by Sul Ross State University on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including, but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.