Mission & History
Director's Welcome
The Evergreen State College Upward Bound TRIO program has been funded by the U.S Department of Education since 1977. The Evergreen State College's Upward Bound program is currently in the last year of a four year $1.7 million grant. Evergreen was awarded $446,568 a year through 2012, making it the second-highest award among the eleven Washington colleges and universities which received Upward Bound grants. The Upward Bound Program’s mission is to increase the overall rate of college going for low income and first generation high school students in Pierce County.
The program provides supplemental instruction in math, laboratory science, English composition, and college knowledge to 110 high risk, low income and first generation high school students from the Tacoma School District and Chief Leschi High School located on the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
The Upward Bound program provides year-round academic support to help students meet high school graduation requirements while providing pre-college workshops and college exploration to ensure a successful transition into college. Evergreen’s Upward Bound program serves students from Chief Leschi, Foss, Lincoln, Mt. Tahoma, and Stadium high schools. During the school year Upward Bound staff members work directly in the partner schools. Tutors are assigned to academically struggling students and after school study tables are supervised by current undergraduate Evergreen students. During the summer, the program hosts a six-week summer residential and academic learning institute on the campus.
Sincerely,
Felix Braffith
Upward Bound 2010 from CJ Rhone on Vimeo.
Objectives for the Upward Bound Program
The Upward Bound Program Objectives are required by the U.S Department of Education to measure performance.
1. 65 % of all UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date during the school year, will have achieved at the proficient level during high school on state assessment in reading/language arts and math.
2. 80 % of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade participants served during each school year will continue to participate in the Upward Bound Project the next school year.
3. 75 % UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected graduation date during the school year, will enroll in a program of post secondary education by the fall term immediately following the expected graduation from high school.
4. 70 % of all UB participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education during the fall term immediately following high school graduation will be enrolled for the fall term of the second academic year.