Upward Bound: About Upward Bound

History

In 1964 The Office of Economic Opportunity, under the direction of Sargent Shriver, created the Upward Bound Program. The purpose of the program was to identify high school students from low-income backgrounds who were under achieving, and to motivate and prepare them to pursue a college education. In 1965, there were seventeen pilot projects funded to serve 2,061 students. In 1966, Professor of Sociology, Dr. Jack Curtis successfully obtained a grant for the University of San Francisco to conduct an Upward Bound project for around15 students from the city and county of San Francisco. This USF project has been in continuous operation since 1966 and currently serves 126 students. There are now 770 Upward Bound projects serving 68,000 students throughout the USA, the Caribbean, and Pacific Islands.

In 1965, Congress initiated a series of additional programs to help students overcome class and social barriers to higher education. The services directed towards low-income and first generation students were called Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Today they are known as the Federal TRIO Programs designating the first three programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Special Services for Disadvantaged Students ( now known as the Student Support Services Program). After their authorization, Congress appropriated funds for the programs.

What is TRIO?

TRIO programs are educational opportunity programs which help low-income, disadvantaged students enter and succeed in college. They were established by Congress and are fundedunder Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Funding for TRIO programs is disbursed by the United States Department of Education. While the student financial aid programs are designed to help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students to overcome environmental, social, and academic barriers to higher education. TRIO programs provide information, academic instruction, advising, tutoring and assistance in applying for college admission and financial aid. TRIO services are designed to improve academic performance, increase student motivation, and facilitate transitions from one level of education to the next. Upward Bound is the first and oldest of the TRIO programs. The Special Programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds incorporate six major programs they are:
Talent Search
Upward Bound, Upward Bound Veterans, and Upward Bound Math/Science
Student Support Services
Educational Opportunity Centers
Ronald E. McNair Programs
Training Program for Special Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel

Why the need for TRIO?
For many people a college education seems like an impossible dream, and for others, higher education is beyond their dreams. This is evident more so now with the abolishment of Affirmative Action and the devastating cuts in the federal and state funds to higher education. The barriers to equal education opportunity are double-edged. In addition to economic barriers, there are class, social, and cultural barriers that limit access to higher education. Many low-income young people and their parents simply do not know what most middle-income and college educated families take for granted about the value, advantages, availability and the requirements of a college education. All too often, disadvantaged high school students are not driven at home or at school to consider postsecondary education. Nor do they understand the importance of taking the appropriate high school courses that will help them to prepare for college. Those disadvantaged students who do make it to college tend to be under prepared for the social and academic challenges that await them Disadvantaged students are often unaware of the costs of postsecondary education, their eligibility for financial aid programs and how to apply. Many lack confidence in themselves and their ability to learn. This is where TRIO - a Federally Funded Program steps in!