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Federal Upward Bound Programs

Purpose:

  Upward Bound is a TRIO program funded by the Department of Education.  The program provides support to low-income and/or first-generation high school students in preparation for college entrance.   

This program is only offered in the Wausau WEOP office in two target school districts.

Objectives:

  • 80 percent of the participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.
  • 55 percent of the UB seniors served will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
  • 92 percent of the participants served during the project year will continue to the next academic year at the next grade level or will have graduated from high school with a regular diploma.
  • 60 percent of the high school graduates will enroll in postsecondary education the next semester after high school or received notice of deferred enrollment to the spring semester.
  • 82 percent of the participants served during the project year who enrolled in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term as a result of deferred enrollment will attain an associate or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.
  • The number of high school seniors who complete a FAFSA must be documented.

Eligibility:

  • 50 low-income, first-generation students who are enrolled at Wausau East, Wausau West, or DC Everest High Schools must be enrolled.
  • Students must be enrolled during 9th or 10th grade.
  • Students are identified with the skills and motivation necessary to complete their secondary education and succeed at a postsecondary institution.
  • This program is only conducted in the Wausau WEOP office.
  • 2/3 of the students must be low income and first generation based on 150 percent poverty.
  • 1/3 of the students must be either low income or first generation.

Types of Service:

  • A six-week summer academic program held on a college campus.
  • One-on-one academic, career or personal advising.
  • A personal education plan.
  • Instruction on topics that include study skills, importance of rigorous classes, picking the right courses to be successful in high school, college vocabulary, time management, financial literacy, types of degrees and colleges, scholarship searches, and/or writing a college essay.
  • Transition strategies from 8th grade to high school as well as from 12th grade to college.
  • College visits.
  • Cultural events.
  • ACT preparation.
  • College admission and financial aid application assistance.
  • Fee waivers for college admission applications and ACT registration.
  • Monitoring grades, attendance, and homework completion.

Funding:

 The Upward Bound program is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Education.  The grant award for 2018-2019 is $315,155.00. The funding cycle is from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023.

DPI-WEOP Student Application:

To upload your application to our secure server, submit a request to your local WEOP Office: 

Wausau WEOP Office

WEOP has five statewide offices: Ashland, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Wausau