Upward Bound

Welcome!

UA Upward Bound (UA UB) is an evidence-based program that provides students social and academic capital building support necessary in their successful transition from high school into college. The project supports underrepresented, low-income, first-generation high school students through programming that provides student personalized access to Academic Preparation & Field Research Activities, Access to Technology and Scientific Tools, Financial Literacy and Planning, and Socio-cultural Literacy to make higher education a reality for these under-served populations.

"Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves: high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education" (U.S. Department of Education, 2018).

Each year, UA Upward Bound will work with a minimum of 60 underrepresented, first-generation college-bound participants. Interested students will be required to complete a comprehensive application packet asking for information relating to academic performance, interest in science and math, career plans, parent's educational attainment levels, and family income background. 

To qualify for acceptance into UA Upward Bound students must satisfy the following:

  • Meet income guidelines set by the US Department of Education

  • Be a potential first-generation college-bound student

  • Attend Cholla High School or Pueblo High School 

  • Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident

  • Strong desire to succeed

Interested students contact UB Staff or talk to your counselor at Cholla High School or Pueblo High School about potentially becoming a program participant in the future!

The following are our project objectives for all students we serve:

  1. All students will have a 2.5 GPA or higher
  2. Participants will obtain AZ Merit Proficiency
  3. All students will graduate high school
  4. Participants will complete a rigorous program of study
  5. All students will enroll in a college after graduation
  6. Participants will attain a post secondary degree

Check out our Upward Bound Project Fact Sheet

Mentoring

UA undergraduate students are paired with UB students and address study skills, college exploration, career exploration, resume building, and other "college-going" activities.

Tutoring

Tutoring in math, language arts, social studies, and science is provided to students through their mentors as well as opportunities available at their schools.

Saturday Academies

On-campus activities that offer various College Readiness workshops, team building sessions, tutoring, counseling, homework, and college application assistance.

Summer Program

Four-week summer programming that includes coursework for credit and non-credit summer camps and writing, math, and science workshops. Programming includes simulated college experiences and college preparation activities, research-based field trips, internships and interactions with scientists and researchers in labs and project-based experiences. 

Upward Bound hosts the Beautiful Patterns program from MIT every summer. 

Check out what we've been up to! Upward Bound Newsletter.

Read more about the Program and Grant.

Keep up to date with UA Upward Bound on our Instagram and Twitter pages! 

We're Hiring!

The Upward Bound TRIO Project (UB) at the College of Education is seeking highly motivated individuals for the 2020-2021 academic year who would like to work as Mentors and Tutors.

Apply