TRIO/UPWARD BOUND PROJECTS
Note: Upward Bound is a TRIO program funded by the United States Department of Education to provide academic support services to low-income, first generation college bound high school students. The mission statement and program goals (objectives in the U.S. Department of Education framework) are specified by federal regulations and policies and cannot be altered without approval from a program officer at the U.S. Department of Education.
I. MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.
Department Goals (Performance objectives dictated by the U.S. Department of Education)
- Academic Performance Grade Point Average (GPA): 60% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
- Academic Performance Test: 40% of UB seniors served during the project year, will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
- Secondary School Retention and Graduation: 90% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma.
- Secondary School Graduation: 50% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate that year with a regular secondary school diploma.
- Postsecondary Enrollment: 70% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately after high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester).
- Postsecondary Completion: 37% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g. spring term) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.
The date of last review was November 16, 2021.
II. DEPARTMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Secured Upward Bound funding through 2028 – The Upward Bound (UB) grant writing competition closed in January of 2022 and CSUC received notification in June confirming that both the Original Upward Bound and Upward Bound II grants have been funded for another 5-year cycle (2023 – 2028). The Original UB grant funding totals $3,333,130 for five years, while UB II will receive $2,019,995 for the five-year period. Combined, both programs will serve 201 students annually. The project is still awaiting results of the Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) grant writing competition and hopes to receive funding notification for both UBMS grants in late August 2022.
- Returned to a full in-person summer residential program – After offering a virtual summer program in 2020 and a hybrid program in 2021, students and staff were excited to return to a full in-person residential summer program. On June 12th, project staff welcomed 178 participants from 16 high schools in the six-county CSUC service area for a six-week residential program. Participants lived in Shasta and Lassen Halls and followed a traditional schedule of academic classes, STEM activities, community service projects, and college and career preparation activities. For the first time since 2019, all courses were taught in person with teachers also offering weekly office hours to enhance student learning. Individual and group tutoring was available to students daily for three hours in the evening. Upward Bound staff created COVID-19 protocols that included testing each student weekly before entering the residence halls and allowing only staff and students to access the residence halls. Additionally, all teachers used Google Classroom, a platform familiar to all students. In case of infection, a student was easily able to access class materials from home and keep up with the class while in isolation.
Summer Program Snapshot:- 1,400 COVID-19 tests administered to students and live-in personnel
- 178 high school students participated in the residential program
- 52 staff, faculty and interns provided direct support and instruction
- 39 in-person course sections offered to students. Courses included physics, calculus, English, Advanced Spanish, medical terminology, computer animation.
- 9 large program events took place to enhance the summer program student experience. Events included the Bidwell Park Cleanup, a series of workshops that focused on financial literacy, graduate school and healthy relationships, and a career fair that welcomed nearly 50 professionals from our community.
- 6 weeks of academic instruction, college, and career preparation
- 3 trips on the last week of the program were offered to 75 high school seniors. Students visited 15 campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
- Resumed In-Person College Tours – After a two-year hiatus due to travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic, project staff were eager to resume college tours for participants. In the fall of 2021, 50 participants toured San Jose State, CSU East Bay, San Francisco State, Sacramento State, UC Santa Cruz, UC Merced, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis. A different group of 25 students toured Southern California colleges in the Spring of 2022. Those campuses included UCLA, USC, UC Irvine, CSU San Diego, UC San Diego and Long Beach State University. After concluding the 2022 Summer Program, 75 incoming seniors took part in three separate college tours and visited UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Merced, Santa Clara University, Stanford, Long Beach State, Sacramento State, Sonoma State University and many others.
- Offered First Microbiology Experience – With the leadership of John Vang, former Upward Bound student and current CSUC graduate student, 20 Upward Bound Math and Science students enrolled in this new course. Students met daily for two hours and gained exposure and hands on experience working with bacteria and learning how to identify it after collecting samples from the creek that runs through campus. The course also provided students insight on careers in the microbiology field, other science fields, and research currently happening at Chico State. Students were able to visit various research site that included:
- Dr. Geszvain Lab
- Bacterial physiology, metal transformations by environmental bacteria, work with contaminated wastewater to find strains of bacteria to help reverse contamination.
- Dr. Gorman Lab
- Scoliosis, complex genetic diseases, comparative genetics, working to understand the molecular mechanisms of control posture.
- Dr. Keller Lab
- Pancreatic beta cell biology and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of type 2 diabetes.
- Gateway Science Museum
- Fossils and formations in California, a builder’s summer (building block allowing students to build their own inventions, imaginative playground).
- Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER)
- 7,835 acres of diverse habitats. Helps provide sites with natural resources to support research and teaching to Chico State students and the public.
- Dr. Banet Lab
- Salmon research, fish/aquatic ecology, evolution, fish conservation.
- Dr. Cobian Lab
- Fungus, plant fungal interactions, fungal community assembly.
- Dr. Geszvain Lab
- Jump Start to College – The Upward Bound graduating class of 2022, was able to take part in this in-person session on June 21st on the Chico State campus. The purpose of Jump Start to College is for graduates to get individual assistance in completing to-do lists from their college, clearing financial aid and registration holds and reviewing all housing contracts and deadlines. With the help of Upward Bound Advisors, students can have all their questions and concerns answered and begin their first semester in college free of hurdles. Additionally, Upward Bound alumni currently enrolled at CSU, Chico, form a student panel and answer all college inquiries and share their own experiences as college students. The graduates were treated to dinner and then completed the day’s activities with our Upward Bound graduation ceremony with their families and current Upward Bound students in attendance.
- Offered Robotics/Engineering Course – Students in the Upward Bound Math and Science and STEM programs received a wide range of supplemental STEM instruction and exposure during the summer program. Students with an interest in engineering enrolled in the six-week Robotics/Engineering course where they worked in pairs to build and program their own VEX 5 robots to complete certain tasks. In addition to the engineering aspect of the course, students delved into manufacturing by designing and creating pieces to enhance their robots using the project’s 3D printer.
III. Changes in Policies and Procedures
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law in 2020 allowed Upward Bound grantees to request an increase in the dollar amount of stipends awarded to participants. Due to our savings of not offering a residential summer program in 2020 and a smaller hybrid program in 2021, we have once again requested an increase in participant stipends for the 2022 summer program. If approved by the U. S. Department of Education (funder), students who completed the internship during the summer program would be awarded up to $500 per month, instead of the $300 regularly allowed. Those students not in a worksite would earn $300 a month for their summer program participation instead of the $60 traditionally allowed.
IV. Resources Summary
Resource Allocation:
Original Upward Bound Grant
June 1, 2021 – May 31, 2022
125 participants
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $666,626
- Program expenses ---- $637,268
- Projected carry forward ---- $29,358
Upward Bound II Grant
September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022
76 participants
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $403,999
- Program expenses ---- $382,578
- Projected carry forward ---- $21,421
Upward Bound Math & Science
September 1, 2021– August 31, 2022
56 participants
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $297,601
- Program expenses ---- $297,601
- Projected carry forward ---- $0
Upward Bound STEM
October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022
60 participants
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $297,601
- Program expenses ---- $297,601
- Projected carry forward ---- $0
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022
30 eligible participants from Colusa, Glenn, Sutter and Yuba counties
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $58,102
- Program expenses ---- $58,102
- Projected carry forward ---- $0
California Department of Education – Summer Food Service Grant (SFSP)
June 1, 2021 – July 30, 2022
- 2021-2022 allocation ---- $16,690.89
- Program expenses ---- $16,690.89
Amy Kee Scholarship Endowment
- 2021-2022 assets ---- $43,849.39
- 2021-2022 contributions ---- $1,579.06
Total funding in 2021-2022 ---- $1,786,047.34
Human Resources:
Peggy Devol (Fiscal Administrator) retired in December 2021after working with Upward Bound for more than a decade. Fortunately, Karissa Lozier-Hamby stepped into the Fiscal Administrator role almost seamlessly. Karissa brings a wealth of experience in areas of budget planning and tracking, human resources and contracts and accounts payable.
Vannessa Avelar stepped into the role of Office Manager in January 2022. Vannessa was an Upward Bound student and worked as a Student Assistant in our office while completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees at CSUC. Her years of experience have been extremely helpful as the project returned to an in-person summer program.
Justin Henry served as the Original Upward Bound Advisor for more than 5 years, but has transitioned to a new role with the CSUC College of Business. We’re excited to now have an ally in the College of Business Student Success Center, but Justin will be sorely missed by Upward Bound students and staff.
Facilities/Equipment:
- With summer program room and board savings from 2020, the project was able to purchase 40 laptops for students to use for the 2021 hybrid summer program and for weekly tutoring provided by Upward Bound during the school year. Students and parents completed and signed an agreement ensuring they would care for the laptop and were able to check it out for the entire school year.
V. Program Assessment of Past Year
Program Objectives:
- Academic Performance Grade Point Average (GPA): 60% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
Exceeded – 83% of the participants served during the project year, had a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better. - Academic Performance Test: 40% of UB seniors served during the project year, will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math.
N/A – No state assessments were administered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. - Secondary School Retention and Graduation: 90% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma.
Exceeded – 99% of participants served during the 2019-2020 academic year continued in school at the next grade level or graduated with a diploma. - Secondary School Graduation: 50% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate that year with a regular secondary school diploma.
Exceeded – 81% of participants graduated high school having completed A-G coursework. - Postsecondary Enrollment: 70% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately after high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester).
Exceeded – 83% of graduates in 2020 enrolled in college immediately following high school. - Postsecondary Completion: 37% of participants who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g. spring term) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school.
Exceeded - 51% of participants received their degree within six years, although the data shows that some participants were still enrolled in their seventh year.
Ongoing Assessment Efforts:
Demographic Reporting
A total of 317 participants were served during the 2021-2022 academic year by the four Upward Bound programs. See breakdown by program below.
Original Upward Bound – 125 participants
Upward Bound II – 76 participants
Upward Bound Math & Science – 56 participants
Upward Bound STEM – 60 participants
Ethnicity Breakdown
The ethnicity breakdown is reflected in the following graph and reflects the low-income/first generation population of the six-county service area in Northern California. Upward Bound staff is working diligently to increase the number of Asian, African American and Native American students who apply and are served by the program. Recruitment and outreach also include community organizations that serve these populations within our communities.
VI. Analysis
Update on 2020-2021 Objectives
Create an online Upward Bound application and a new virtual recruitment plan – Because of COVID-19, the project has had to adjust program service delivery, but now also needs to implement a new recruitment plan to accommodate for school closures and the new distance learning environment. Upward Bound staff is currently developing an online application that would allow students to apply electronically, while also meeting CSUC’s requirements to safeguard personal information. Paper applications will still be available to students in Spanish and English, but an online application would allow for a safer and faster method of collecting student information. In addition to the application, staff is also developing a new virtual interview process that would be done via Zoom, in order to speak with each applicant and their guardian about the benefits and requirements of Upward Bound.
Update: Cesar Alvarez (UB Asst. Director) and Chue Yang (UB Programmer/Analyst) successfully created an online application that was then approved by ITSS. The Project began disseminating this online application 2021 and students and parents quickly began using it in place of completing a paper application. The application allows applicants to save their progress and come back to complete the application at a later time, a necessary feature since students need parental information to complete the application. Virtual interviews (because staff weren’t able to meet students in person at their schools) were also a big success. Sending a Zoom invite to a student to conduct interviews allowed for parents/guardians to also attend the interview and ask pertinent questions about program services and requirements. Although we have returned to in-person interviews in 2022, we still allow for virtual interviews for students who are ill and can’t attend school.
Transition to a more useful database to assist with more effective data reporting – Data gathering for reporting purposes has been a challenge for several years with the database the project has used for the last decade. Last year, the project moved to a new database, but it isn’t user friendly and collecting and compiling information for annual reporting purposes proved to be too difficult. The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), our national advocacy group has worked with Oracle to develop a new database specifically designed for TRIO programs to ease annual reporting processes. Upward Bound staff is currently using it on a trial basis and plans to make a final decision soon.
Update: The Project has purchased four licenses (one for each UB grant) for Empower, a TRIO database operated by the Council for Opportunity in Education). Getting the database up and running has been difficult, because Empower is so new and it doesn’t appear they have much experience with clients who operate multiple TRIO programs. Project staff have met with Empower programmers to suggest enhancements that would make it a more user-friendly database. We anticipate transitioning fully to Empower in the fall of 2022, once all enhancements have been completed by the vendor.
VII. Program Objectives for Next Academic Year
- Implement Newly Awarded Grant Application Activities/Services
- Enhance and Individualize Academic Year Services