About Upward Bound
Facts
Adams State College Upward Bound Is a Federally Funded Program
- The Upward Bound Program is designed and funded to work with high school students who have the potential for success in college.
- This program strives to unlock each student's potential through academic skills development and extensive career and personal counseling.
- The program consists of an academic year program and a summer residential program.
WHAT IS UPWARD BOUND?
Upward Bound is a highly successful pre-collegiate program of rigorous academic instruction, individual tutoring, and counseling for low-income, first generation college potential high school students.
WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL REASON FOR HAVING AN UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM?
There are some students who have potential for success in college but who, for any number of reasons (such as lack of proper educational preparation and/or career education in high school) will not consider going to college. The program strives to unlock each student's potential through experiences and instruction that are designed to build on the strengths which the students possesses.
WHAT ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE DURING THE PROGRAM?
During the summer, Upward Bound students live on the Adams State College campus and are involved in an intensive academic study program with an emphasis on English, mathematics, science, reading, and writing. The students begin the program with a battery of tests to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Individual and group counseling is also an important element of the program. Additionally, the students participate in numerous educational and recreational field trips. Upward Bound's residential program runs six weeks during the summer. During the academic year, Upward Bound students receive academic instruction with an emphasis on English Composition with additional participation in an extensive career education program. One-to-One counseling is emphasized during the academic year. Counselors follow the students' progress in high school, and students learn about the college application process and how to apply for financial assistance. Students are involved in a variety of educational activities and recreational field trips, such as ACT preparation workshops, note taking workshops, college course audit, campus visitations, amusement parks, etc...
DOES THE PROGRAM PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE?
The program does not provide any financial aid, but instead is committed to helping students obtain financial aid from whatever college to which they apply. Program counselors assists students with required paperwork and applications to obtain loans, grants, and scholarships.
HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE PROGRAM?
A recent study found that, overall more than 90 percent of Upward Bound program graduates enter institutions of higher education and are more than twice as likely to enroll in four-year post-secondary institutions as students from similar backgrounds. Four years after high school graduation, Upward Bound graduates were four times as likely to have earned an undergraduate degree as students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in Upward Bound.
PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM.
Print and complete all sections of the application packet linked at the right and return it to your high school counselor or the Upward Bound Office in Richardson Hall, Box 18 Room 245, Adams State College, Alamosa, CO, 81102. The phone number is (719)589-7865. Your application will not be considered until you complete all requirements of the application packet.
