The SDSU Upward Bound Programs are funded to serve 60 San Diego County students during the academic year and 50 during the summer. The program consists of two closely related components: a six-week summer residential program on the SDSU campus and an academic year program which serves as a follow-up for students who continue to participate. The targeted students are ethnically diverse and live in some of the most economically depressed areas of the county. The academic year activities include college-age mentors in high schools who work up to two hours weekly with students; home visits by year-round Upward Bound staff; individual learning plans/study skills development, college and financial aid application activities; college visitation trips; cultural field trips, and other services to ensure adequate college preparation and career/goal planning.

Learn more about SDSU Upward Bound

• Purpose & Objectives
• Program Information/Facts
• Summer Residential Component (SRP)
• Academic Year Component
• Eligibility Criteria & How to Apply
• Philosophy and Vision
• The UB Commitments

Purpose of Upward Bound

The Upward Bound programs are educational opportunity outreach programs to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and are funded by the U.S. Department of Education. SDSU UB Programs are committed to enhancing college preparedness and awareness by:

• Providing services to eligible students to pursue a college education.
• Creating a harmonious, multicultural, educational community of students with high potential who demonstrate a strong desire to acquire higher education.
• Enhancing all areas of current high school study by providing study skills workshops and superior summer classes.
• Giving participants personalized college preparation through personal counseling, academic advising, mentoring, and tutorial assistance.
• Inspiring and instructing qualified students in specific areas of general education, humanities and computers.

Academic and Developmental Objectives

The SDSU Upward Bound Programs students and staff are comitted to:

• Promoting academic excellence and nurturing personal growth through creating and maintaining a supportive environment.
• Maintaining the highest levels of motivation and engaging in all aspects of the program enthusiastically.
• Empowering ourselves during the program to ensure enriching learning experiences, to develop inquiry skills and to increase academic and world knowledge.

Date Commenced

• Classic: Septembmer 1983
• STAR: Septembmer 1999

Target Population

• Classic: Low income, potential first generation college-bound 9th–12th grade students.
• STAR: Low-income, ethnically diverse students, potential first-generation college-bound students 9^th through 12^th grades in City Heights, Center City and El Cajon areas.

Collaboration Partners

Upward Bound Classic:

• Castle Park High School
• Mar Vista High School
• Morse High School
• Mt. Miguel High School
• Southwest High School

Upward Bound STAR:

• Crawford High School
• El Cajon Valley High School
• Hoover High School
• San Diego High School

Funding Sources

• The Upward Bound Classic Program is 97.01% federally funded at $368,761 and 2.99% funded from nonfederal sources at $11,353.
• The Upward Bound STAR Program is 96.93% federally funded at $293,163 and 3.07% funded from nonfederal sources at $9,292.

The six-week summer residential program is an integral part of the Upward Bound Programs. Fifty participating students (40 for STAR) are selected to take part and live with a roommate in a college residence hall on the beautiful, sunny campus of San Diego State University. Important elements of the program are:

• Full-time supervision: a professional staff member serves as Head Resident Advisor and oversees all residence hall activities and college-age Resident Advisors live in the residence hall to guide, counsel and tutor students.
• Superior summer coursework: students take three classes taught by credentialed high school teachers in an integrated, hands-on curriculum.
• Friday afternoon field trips: students participate in educational, cultural and/or recreational field trips and activities.
• Summer stipend: student participants receive $20 every two weeks.
• Weekends with family: students go home Friday afternoons and return to SDSU  residence hall on Sunday evenings.

During the school year, our program counselor works weekly with all students at their school sites to provide academic support and information. In addition, the programs have monthly activities for participants and their families. Among the services provided are:

• Assistance with college and financial aid (FAFSA) applications, scholarship searches and applications.
• Preparation for college entrance exams (SAT and ACT).
• Exploration of career options and completion of a career interest inventory.
• Participation in visits to local and other four-year universities throughout the State of California.
• Participation in exciting motivational workshops, and educational activities.
• Study skills development.

Students are selected to participate in UB Programs based on a comprehensive recruitment, application and interview process during the second semester of their 9 th grade year. Specific criteria for eligible students are:

• Low-income based on the annual federal low-income level guidelines and/or first generation in family to complete a four-year college education in the United States.
• Citizen or national of the U.S., a permanent resident or can provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service of intent to become a permanent resident.
• Identified need for academic support in order to successfully pursue a program of education beyond high school.
• English Language Learner (for STAR Program only)
• Completed the 8 th grade but not entered the 12th grade and between the ages of 13 and 19.

You must also be enrolled at one of the following schools to participate…

…in the SDSU UB Classic Program:

• Castle Park High School
• Mar Vista High School
• Morse High School
• Mt. Miguel High School
• Southwest High School

…in the SDSU UB STAR Program:

• Crawford High School
• El Cajon Valley High School
• Hoover High School
• San Diego High School

Download a Student Application
The Upward Bound/HCOP Student Application for 2012 is now available for download:

• Student Application (DOCX |  PDF)

Statement of Philosophy

The Upward Bound Classic pre-college program strives to create a harmonious, multicultural, educational communtiy of students with high potential who demonstrate a strong desire to acquire higher education. This educational community promotes, for both students and staff, a sense of belonging, self-pride, and an ethos of personal responsibility with a deep commitment to give back to the larger community. The educational community provides curriculum opportunities for academic accomplishment, self-governance, individual and group empowerment, as well as personal and cultural growth.

Vision Statement

Students in the SDSU Upward Bound programs will participate in a highly motivational, experiential curriculum promoting cross-cultural understanding and global awareness through the application of intensive language development, computer technology, visual art and social science instruction. The summer residential component will provide a nurturing learning environment that stresses a holistic concern for the social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual well being of the students.

Upward Bound students are committed to:

Realization: The pursuit of learning and high academic and personal goals.

Respect: For self, other individuals, other cultures, and the environment.

Role-modeling: High standards of behavior, trustworthiness, and the ability to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Responsibility: Taking personal responsibility and taking responsiblity for the well-being of the community.