About Us

Upward Bound History

Upward Bound (UB) was the first TRIO program and remains the largest of the programs in terms of annual funding allocations. TRIO began with the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which authorized 18 pilot Upward Bound programs in 1965. In the same year, the Higher Education Act of 1965 authorized the Talent Search (TS) Program designed to identify and assist youths with the potential for success in higher education. In 1966, the UB Program was expanded from the 18 pilot programs to 220. It was not until 1968 that the term TRIO was coined to encompass the three initial programs—UB, TS, and the newly authorized Student Support Services (SSS) Program that provides support services to undergraduates to assist them in completing programs of postsecondary education. At the same time (in 1968), all three programs were placed under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, as amended. Additional programs were added in 1972, 1986, 1990 and 1998 resulting in a total of 8 TRIO programs.

Upward Bound Purpose

The purpose of Upward Bound has always been to foster, among low-income youths and potentially first generation college students enrolled in high school, the skills and motivation necessary for enrollment and success in education beyond high school. The goal of the program is to increase the academic performance and motivation of eligible participants so that they may complete secondary school and successfully pursue postsecondary education programs.

Rivera Grant

1. Academic Performance--Grade Point Average (GPA)
80% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
2. Academic Performance on Standardized Test:
9 0% of UB seniors served during the project year, will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
3. Secondary School Retention and Graduation
90% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma.
4. Secondary School Graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study)
75% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had and expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate in that school year with a regular secondary school diploma.
5. Postsecondary Enrollment
90% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment
until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester)
6. Postsecondary Completion
65% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g., spring term) as a result of acceptance by deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.

Rio Hondo Grant

1. Academic Performance--Grade Point Average (GPA)
80% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or
better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
2. Academic Performance on Standardized Test:
90% of UB seniors served during the project year, will have achieved at the proficient
level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
3. Secondary School Retention and Graduation
90% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the
next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary
school with a regular secondary school diploma.
4. Secondary School Graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study)
75% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the
project had and expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete
a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate in that school year with a
regular secondary school diploma.
5. Postsecondary Enrollment
90% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project
had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program
of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school
graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high
school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment
until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester)
6. Postsecondary Completion
50% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall
term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g.,
spring term) as a result of acceptance by deferred enrollment, will attain either an
associate’s or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.

Lopez/Porter  Grant

1. Academic Performance--Grade Point Average (GPA)
80% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
2. Academic Performance on Standardized Test:
90% of UB seniors served during the project year, will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
3. Secondary School Retention and Graduation
90% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma.
4. Secondary School Graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study)
75% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had and expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate in that school year with a regular secondary school diploma.
5. Postsecondary Enrollment
90% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment
until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester)
6. Postsecondary Completion
65% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g., spring term) as a result of acceptance by deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.