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- What is the purpose of the Upward Bound Program?
- What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
- How often are competitions generally held?
- What is the duration of the average grant?
- What is the average annual grant amount?
- Is there a cost matching requirement?
- What are the reporting requirements for grantees?  What kinds of records and data should be maintained or collected in order to complete required reports?
- What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects?
- Are there program-wide performance measures?
- What are concrete examples of allowable activities?

The purpose of the Upward Bound (UB) Program is to generate in program participants the skills and motivation necessary to complete a program of secondary education and to enter and succeed in a program of postsecondary education.

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Any project assisted under the UB Program must provide –

- Academic tutoring to enable students to complete secondary or postsecondary courses, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science and other subjects;
- Advice and assistance in secondary and postsecondary course selection;
- Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications;
- Information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits (including  Federal Pell Grant  awards and loan forgiveness) and resources for locating public and private scholarships;
- Guidance on and assistance in secondary school reentry; alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma; entry into general educational development (GED) programs or entry into postsecondary education; and
- Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students’ parents, including financial planning for postsecondary education
- Any project that has received funds for at least two years must include as part of its core curriculum in the next and succeeding years, instruction in mathematics through pre-calculus; laboratory science; foreign language; composition; and literature.

An UB project may provide the following services:

- Exposure to cultural events, academic programs, and other activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth;
- Information, activities, and instruction designed to acquaint youth participating in the project with the range of career options available to the youth;
- On-campus residential programs;
- Mentoring programs involving elementary school or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons;
- Work-study positions where youth participating in the project are exposed to careers requiring a postsecondary degree;
- Programs and activities that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient; participants from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, participants who are individuals with disabilities, participants who are homeless children and youths, participants in or who are aging out of foster care, or other disconnected participants; and
- Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the UB Program.

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The UB Program competition is held every four years.

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All UB grants are funded for five-year grant award cycles.

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The average UB grant award amount is $321,079.

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The UB Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

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All UB grantees are required to submit an annual performance report (APR) documenting progress toward meeting their approved project objectives.

A grantee must maintain a record of –

- The basis for the grantee’s determination that the participant is eligible to participate in the project;
- The basis for the grantee’s determination that the participant has a need for academic support in order to pursue successfully a program of education beyond secondary school; The services that are provided to the participant;  The educational progress of the participant during high school and, to the degree possible, during the participant’s pursuit of a postsecondary education program; and  To the extent practicable, any services the participant receives during the project year from another Federal TRIO program or another federally-funded program that serves populations similar to those served under the UB program.     TOP          8. What are the requirements for auditing and/or evaluation of funded projects?  
Any non-federal entity that expends a total of $500,000 or more in federal funds must have an annual audit that is conducted under the requirements of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133.  In addition, a grantee is required to implement the evaluation plan stated in its funded application.
   TOP          9. Are there program-wide performance measures?  
The success of the UB Program is measured by the percentage of low-income, first-generation college students who successfully pursue and complete postsecondary education opportunities.
   TOP          10. What are concrete examples of allowable activities?  
A regular UB project must provide participants with a summer instructional component that is designed to stimulate a college-going experience for participants.  Also, regular UB projects may provide exposure to cultural events, academic programs, and other activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth.

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