Upward Bound Page: Introduction

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Fast Facts About Upward Bound

Who is Eligible?

Fast Facts About Upward Bound

Upward Bound is a U.S. Department of Education program hosted by Bemidji State University that has two important purposes:

To motivate participating youth to consider education beyond high school;
To prepare participants to succeed in a program of post-secondary education.

Upward Bound works in partnership with selected students, their families and with schools to overcome academic, social or cultural barriers that might discourage or prevent young people from doing their best and achieving their dreams.

Selected students begin their Upward Bound experience with a six week summer educational program conducted on the campus of Bemidji State University. Participating students live on-campus in a University residence hall and take classes taught by high school and University instructors that are intended to help them prepare for college. Classes include, math, science, college writing, critical thinking, literature, and foreign language. Evening and weekend activities are planned for participants and, depending on the event, may be either social or cultural in nature. Planning for post-secondary education is continually emphasized. Plus, the summer program is cost free to participants.

When summer program students return to high school in the fall, they are visited by Upward Bound staff twice each month. Staff assist Upward Bound students in planning for education beyond high school during these visits and monitor the student's high school academic progress. If an Upward Bound student needs help in achieving their full potential for academic success, Upward Bound staff work with the high school personnel to ensure that needed services are provided. In addition to school visits, several reunions are held on the campus each year.

Statistics show that getting education beyond a high school diploma is essential for those who want to earn a living for themselves and their future families. Students who participate in Upward Bound are four times for likely to graduate from college than students from similar backgrounds who do not get the benefit of the Upward Bound experience.