Upward Bound a boost to higher educationBy Rose McIlveen | |
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Call it a boost up the ladder, but its real name is Upward Bound. That’s the upbeat name for a program that reaches down into secondary schools to find potential college students.
Starting its second year headquartered on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University, the program is funded by a $1 million grant over the course of five years from the U.S. Department of Education. Two-thirds of the students selected must be from low-i ncome families and the first in the family to attend college. The remaining third of identified middle-school and high-school students must be either potential first-generation college-goers or from low-income households. “The IU Bloomington Upward Bound is operating in five sites in Indiana—Bloomington, the Region (Gary/East Chicago and Hammond), Indianapolis, Kokomo and New Albany,” said Marshal Chaifetz, director of the program. Students from those areas receive weekly distance learning sessions during the academic year, assignment of a research project in their community and six weeks of summer residence on the IUB campus. “In their hometowns during the regular school year, the students participate in weekly tutoring sessions in reading, mathematics, English, science and a foreign language,” explained Chaifetz. During their stay on the Bloomington campus, the students become aware of the educational, social and cultural opportunities at the college level. “In this summer’s workshops, we emphasized SAT exam preparation, general studies skills, problem-solving skills, time management and career planning. Some of the speakers were Charles Nelms, IU vice president for student development and diversity; Janice Wiggins, director of the Groups program, and Frank Motley, associate vice president for academic support,” he said. Computer skills were stressed, as well as the ins and outs of financial aid and admissions procedures. At the end of the summer, relatives of the students were invited to Bloomington for the session-ending banquet. “Each student was required to show off new computer technology by giving a Power Point presentation at the banquet,” added Chaifetz. The students who participated this year will work with local instructors throughout their high school years. During their senior year, the students will be required to apply for admission to three colleges or universities. The Upward Bound program was established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1965. |
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Publication date: September 29, 2000
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