Academic Year Program

Upward Bound Coordinators maintain regular contact with participants, meeting with them in their high schools and arranging workshops, field trips and attendance at cultural events. The following services are provided:

  • Academic Instruction
  • Academic and Skill Building
  • Tutoring
  • Academic Advising
  • Personal Counseling
  • Career Exploration
  • ACT Preparation
  • College Search, Campus Visits, Application Assistance
  • Financial Aid Information Workshops
  • Leadership Development
  • Cultural Events and Field Trips

Upward Bound Coordinators visit each target school identified in the Upward Bound grant a minimum of twice per month during the academic year. Coordinators may meet with Upward Bound students in an individual, per grade level or large group setting. Upward Bound students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled bi-monthly visits in their school. The following information is a general curriculum covered during the academic school year. Curriculum may be subject to change.

September

Group meeting(s) for all students including new September admits.

September: Meeting #1
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Complete yearly information update sheets (addresses, e-mail and phone #s)
  • Complete Individualized Development Plans for 2012-13.
Grade 12:

  • ACT registration & fee waiver distribution (if applicable)
  • Senior Year fall semester Calendar
  • Planning for College: A Senior Year Calendar
Grade 11:

  • Planning for College: A Junior Year Calendar
Grade 10:

  • Planning for Success: A Student Planner with study tips
Mailings home:

    • TRIO Campus Visit Day at Central College flyer & registration, September 21st (grades 11/12)
    • September 30th Workshop flyer & registration postcard- Golden Circle College Fair, 12:30-3:00 pm, Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines (all)

TSCs provide yearly school calendar, student schedules for fall semester and update contact information if necessary.

October

Individual, group or grade level meetings.

October: Meeting #1
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Peer Tutoring Form
  • Understanding Emotional Intelligence
Grade 12:

  • College Visit Update
  • ACT Codes for Iowa Schools
  • Senior College Checklist
  • “Building Your Future”
Grade 11:

  • “Building Your Future”
Grade 10:

  • 16 MTBI Types
October: Meeting #2
Grades 11/12:

  • “Your Course to College” booklet
Mailings home:

    • October 10th SAB Leadership Conference registration (SAB members only)
    • October 20th Workshop flyer & registration postcard (all)

November

Individual, group or grade level meetings.

November: Meeting #1
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • High School Activity Log
Grade 12:

  • Travel reimbursement form for college visits
  • Requesting Transcripts fromCentralCollege(those applicable who took college credit courses during  UB summer program)
  • College Application Checklist
Grade 11:

  • ACT Tips for Juniors
  • Make the Most of Your Campus Visit
Grade 10:

  • Stress Management Tips
  • Be Your Best on Tests Skill Book
November: Meeting #2
Grade 12:

  • College Comparison Worksheet
  • Scholarship Scams
Grades 11/12:

  • ACT Poster Contest Scholarship Information
Grade 11:

  • ACT Question of the Day
  • Factors in Choosing a College
Grade 10:

  • Types of Colleges
  • Exploring Colleges
  • Taking Lecture Notes
  • College Preparation Checklist
Mailings home:

  • Parent fall newsletter (all)
  • Student fall Newsletter (all)
  • November 3rd workshop flyer & registration postcard (all)
  • November 7th large group campus visit (University of Iowa & Coe College) flyer & registration postcard (grades 11/12)
  • Senior letter (grade 12)

December

Individual, group or grade level meetings.

December: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
Grade 12:

  • Writing an Effective Scholarship Essay
  • How to Apply for Financial Aid
  • Scholarship Search Senior Informational Sheet-Dell Scholars, CSO Scholarship, Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Grade 11:

  • ACT Dates
  • Reading with a Purpose Skill book
Grade 10:

  • Be Your Best on Tests Skill book
  • Effective Note Taking Skill book

Mailings home:

  • December 8th workshop flyer & registration postcard (all)

January

Individual, group or grade level meetings.

January: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Update/Modify Individual Development Plan (IDP) for second semester
Grade 12:

  • College Majors Scorecard Assessment
Grade 11:

  • RAI information
  • RAI calculation worksheet
Grade 10:

  • Test-Taking Strategies
  • Planning for a Major Exam
  • “American Careers” Interest Inventory
Mailings home:

  • Bridge applications (grade 12)
  • Returning student applications (grades 10/11)
  • Registration for Final Exam Study Nights at the Des Moines Public Library- January 7, 8, 9 @ 6:00-7:30 p.m. (all)
    Parent sessions on various topics, such as Tax Preparation, FAFSA assistance, college readiness will be in conjunction with study nights.
  • Parent winter newsletter (all)
  • Student winter newsletter (all)

February

Individual, group or grade level meetings.

February: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • IDP Review / Modifications for 2nd semester
    (if applicable, per coordinator)
Grade 12:

  • Required documents for FAFSA completion
  • All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) guidelines
  • Senior Year spring semester Calendar
Grade 11:

  • IowaACT Codes
  • ACT Practice Workshop informational sheet
  • Free on-line ACT preparation resources
  • “Papers that Make the Grade” skill book
    (*cover over both meetings)
Grade 10:

  • For those who missed February workshop:Completion of Learning Channel Preference Checklist for scoring. Provide assessment results and preferred learning  style informational packet as follow up.
  • “On Career” skill book (*cover over both meetings)
Mailings home:

  • February 9th workshop flyer & registration postcard (all) *Snow date: February 16th
  • Iowa Goal Sunday event times/locations (grade 12)

Financial Aid Calling Night- each coordinator will contact parents of seniors to provide financial aid assistance (grade 12)

March

Individual, group or grade level meeting.

March: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda, Summer Program Dates
Grade 12:

  • Senior “Pop Quiz”
  • How to Get the Scholarship-It’s All About You
  • Common Scholarship Interview Questions
  • College Cost Worksheet
Grade 11:

  • ACT “Get Set for College” Guide for Students
  • Setting Up a Campus Visit, Questions to Ask
  • Summer Program Course Enrollment (if applicable)
Grade 10:

  • What are Your Values
  • American Careers magazine/discussion articles
  • Preferred Learning Styles Information /
    Assessment Results (if applicable)
  • Summer Program Course Enrollment (if applicable)
Mailings home:

  • March 2nd workshop flyer & registration postcard (all) *Snow date: March 9th
  • Acceptance letters for new summer admits

April

Individual, group or grade level meeting.

April: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
Grade 12:

  • Selecting a Financial Aid package
  • 10 Essential Borrowing Tips
  • On! Living On Your Own Skill book
Grade 11:

  • Next Step…College Skills book
  • Summer Program Course Enrollment
Grades 9/10:

  • Summer Program Course Enrollment
  • Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Assessment / Informational Handout
Mailings home:

  • Summer Orientation flyer & registration postcard to all new summer admits. Presentations will be offered at three locations: Des Moines (East, North or Lincoln HS- to be determined), Oskaloosa HS and Central College (Pella).
  • Parent spring newsletter (all)
  • Student spring newsletter (all)

May

Individual, group or grade level meetings; End of year visit.

May: Meetings #1/2
All Students:

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Completion of Academic Year Program Evaluation
  • Completion of IDP Self-Evaluation
  • Hints to stay on track during the summer months
  • Test Taking Strategies
Grade 12:

  • Completion of Senior Follow-Up Form
  • “Off to College” magazine
  • Student Loans brochure
Grade 11:

  • Movin’ On: Your College and Career Guide
Grade 10:

  • Studying for Success skill book
Mailings home:

  • Summer Informational Packet (all students enrolled to attend summer program)