About Upward Bound

What is Upward Bound?

Upward Bound is an academic support program designed to increase high school students' opportunities to attend college.

Who is eligible for Upward Bound?

To be eligible for ETSU Upward Bound, a student must attend one of the following target area schools:

Cloudland High School (Roan Mountain, TN)
Dobyns-Bennett High School (Kingsport, TN)
Dobyns-Bennett Excel (Kingsport, TN)
Elizabethton High School (Elizabethton, TN)
Hampton High School (Hampton, TN)
Happy Valley High School (Elizabethton, TN)
Johnson County High School (Mountain City, TN)
Sullivan East High School (Bluff City, TN)
Science Hill High School (Johnson City, TN)
Tennessee High School (Bristol, TN)
Unaka High School (Unaka, TN)
Unicoi County High School (Erwin, TN)
West Ridge High School (Blountville, TN)

The student must meet one of the following criteria:

family income must meet federal guidelines and/or
neither parent obtained a four-year degree from a college or university

Students start the program in the beginning of their freshman or sophomore year and remain in the program until they begin their college career.

What academic support is available?

The program is designed to supplement the high school curriculum and is focused on individual student academic need in all of their high school classes. Students will receive tutoring and advanced skill development geared toward college preparation.

How can Upward Bound help students get into college?

Aside from providing an academic support system, Upward Bound provides workshops and individual counseling sessions for financial aid and scholarship information for college, ACT preparation, and career planning. Upon graduation from high school, Upward Bound students have the pportunity to enroll in a college class at ETSU. The Upward Bound program provides tuition, tutoring, books, and supplies for up to two summer classes.

Where and when does Upward Bound meet?

During the school year, Upward Bound has monthly meetings on Monday evenings at ETSU main campus. The Upward Bound program provides transportation from designated pick-up points to ETSU and back to the designated pick-up points for these academic sessions. During the school year an Upward Bound representative will visit each school once a week for a short meeting with each Upward Bound student.

During the summer, students participate in a six-week residential program at ETSU main campus. The students attend classes in academic subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Writing, Literature, and Foreign Language. The summer schedule also offers a variety of classes such as: art, crafts, music, dance and physical fitness activities. Upward Bound students also attend several educational and cultural activities throughout the year.

What is the cost to participate in the Upward Bound program?

Program activities are provided at no cost to the student. Upward Bound is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Education.

Do the classes I take in UB Summer count as High School credit?

No, summer classes taken druing the UB Summer program are meant to help prepare you for your next year's classes at your high school only.

Program Information:

Click here for some general information about the ETSU Upward Bound program, including who we can serve and the types of services and support we provide.

Please contact the Upward Bound office (423-439-5619) if you have any questions.

Upward Bound In The News

05/30/2023 - ETSU's Upward Bound program offers free summer meals to eligible children
06/06/2023 - UCHS student gives Care and Share sign a touch-up
05/19/2022 - Seniors take spotlight in honors ceremony
06/16/2017 - TRIO receives Upward Bound grant renewal
07/27/2016 - ETSU’s Upward Bound students visit Disney Youth program at Epcot
06/23/2015 - Upward Bound students learn about water sampling at Brush Creek
11/04/2014 - War on Poverty College Programs Still Serving 'Lucky Few'
09/17/2014 - ETSU's Dr. Ronnie Gross receives Walter O. Mason Jr. Award