Upward Bound is a post secondary education preparatory program.  We focus on academics using a holistic, well-being approach.  We provide enrichment classes, tutoring, counseling and career planning.  We also offer a small monetary stipend rewarded on the basis of the students G.P.A.  Our two main criteria for eligibility are income and if the student is the first generation in his/her family to aspire to go to college.

There are four main components to Upward Bound.  School visits, Saturday College, Summer College and the College Tour.  During the school year we conduct weekly visits in the high schools with each Upward Bound student.  Saturday College runs from October to May (not including January) during the first Saturday of each month.  A bus is provided for students to travel to the UVM campus where in the morning they attend classes and in the afternoon they are exposed to fun and cultural activities.  Summer College is much the same although considerably more extensive.  During that time the students live in the UVM dorms five days a week for five weeks.  The week immediately after Summer College, begins the College Tour when students visit colleges.  For example, in 2002 we traveled to Washington D.C. and visited Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University and the University of Maryland.
 

During Saturday College,  Upward Bound students meet at the UVM campus on the first Saturdays of October, November, December, February, March, April and May.  Saturday College runs from 9:00 am until 3:45 pm.  In the morning Students participate in academic enrichment classes such as math, languages, science, English and social studies.  The afternoon is filled with cultural and fun activities in addition to informational sessions.  Periodically, SAT exams are administered to provide students the opportunity to practice taking the exam.
 

    During the summer, thirty Upward Bound students will live on UVM's campus for classes, and other fun and enriching activities.  This past summer the students went to Boston where they visited a number of colleges and experienced the fast pace of city life.  Summer College offers an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to learning.  Themes are explored, incorporating the various subjects of math, science, and language.  Emphasis is placed, throughout all Upward Bound academic offerings, on thinking skills and problem solving.

This program has many benefits.  Some of them are:

• Experiencing life for six weeks on a college campus with full room, board and supervision.
• Studying with teachers who are interested in you and your future.
• Traveling and participating in cultural and recreational activities.
• Discovering yourself, your abilities, and possibilities for the future.
• Receiving instructional, tutorial help and college counseling throughout the year.