Upward Bound Program

UAF is a recipient of an Upward Bound Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education which provides outreach educational services and activities for Alaska students. The purpose of Upward Bound is to provide fundamental support for participants in their preparation for enrollment in postsecondary education. It serves high school students from families who meet income guidelines and in which neither of the parents hold a baccalaureate degree. The Upward Bound Program has two components: an academic year component that assists participants in target high schools to improve their academic performance, exposes them to postsecondary education opportunities and provides advising to help ensure their graduation from high school and enrollment in postsecondary education; and a summer component held on the UAF campus which provides 60 students with an intensive six week program of course work, field trips and a variety of social and cultural ctivities. For more information contact the Upward Bound Program at (907) 474-5685, visit online at www.ub.uaf.edu or e-mail to fyubc@uaf.edu.

Upward Bound Math/Science Regional Center

Since 1992 the UAF Upward Bound Math/Science Regional Center has worked to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is a federal TRIO Program. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in these fields. Students living in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are encouraged to apply. Thirty-seven students are selected from the applicant pool to participate each year. Applications are available each January on our website at www.ubms.uaf.edu/download.shtml.

Services provided include:

  • Six-week summer program (June-July) of intensive math and science training
  • Residential living on the UAF campus and residential counselor supervision
  • One eight-day science field trip, computer training, weekly field trips and hands-on activities
  • Cultural, recreational and service-oriented activities
  • A small weekly stipend
  • Year-round counseling and advising
  • Exposure to university faculty and/or graduate students who do research in math and science

Who May Apply

The following guidelines are set by the U.S. Department of Education to help determine eligibility for selection to participate in the UAF Upward Bound Math/Science program:

  • Must have completed the eighth grade
  • Two-thirds of all participants must be low-income
  • Two-thirds of all participants must be potential first-generation college students
  • The remaining one-third must be low-income or potential first-generation college students
  • Participants do not necessarily have to be participating in a regular Upward Bound program

For more information contact the Upward Bound Math/Science Regional Center at (907) 474-5938, toll-free at 1-800-478-8267 or online at www.ubms.uaf.edu.