Saturday Academies

Throughout the academic year, UB students participate in weekend college-going workshops on the University of Iowa campus. These "Saturday Academies" cover an array of topics including career counseling, study skills, financial literacy, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) exploration, and more.

Weekly meetings

Upward Bound participants meet one-on-one and in small groups with UB specialists for individualized college and career counseling and activities focused on topics including:

• Academic schedule building
• ACT preparation
• Understanding how high school courses and grades relate to college
• Finding the right college
• Filling out college applications and searching for scholarships
• Learning how skills and interests relate to a career
• Improving financial literacy
• Developing self-advocacy skills

Tutoring

UB connects students who are struggling academically, who want extra academic support, or who want to get ahead with trained college-student tutors. Tutors help students with difficult subject areas and with organization, test preparation, and academic preparedness.

Events

During the academic year participants can attend Upward Bound events in the Eastern Iowa area, including a day of community service, a cultural event such as a play or musical performance, and college campus visits. These events give students the opportunity to find out what "going to college is all about" and what types of opportunities college study presents to them.

During the summer program, Upward Bound participants live and learn on the University of Iowa campus. Participants take courses that will prepare them for their next year in school and engage in creative after-class activities to explore their extracurricular interests. The Upward Bound summer program is comprised of a five-week Rising student residential program for students entering grades 10 through 12 in the fall and a six-week Bridge experience for students entering college in the fall.

Rising Student Program

During the Rising student summer program, students entering grades 10 through 12 the following fall experience college life first-hand by living in one of the University of Iowa's residence halls. During the day, students take rigorous high school level classes in math, science, ACT prep, foreign language, and language arts to prepare them for the upcoming academic year. They also take a STEM seminar focusing on various topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Bridge Student Program

In the Bridge experience, students entering college in the fall take a college course through the University of Iowa. Credits earned during the Bridge program can be transferred to any college or university. Bridge students also participate in job shadows with professionals in the Iowa City community and complete a Bridge Seminar class to learn skills to aid in the transition to college. Like Rising students, Bridge students live in university dorms and get to experience life on a university campus.

SILTS

In the evenings, students participate in SILTS—that's Special Interests and Life-Time Sports—to learn more about hobbies and creative activities they may want to pursue as well as explore ways to remain physically fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. In the evening's students also enjoy a bit of free time, hit the books or computer lab during UB study time, and participate in occasional resident mentor group meetings.

Week of Learning on the Road

The summer program culminates in a Week of Learning on the Road, an educational field trip to an exciting destination in the United States. Past destinations have included Washington DC, New York City, Minneapolis, South Dakota, Memphis, and Chicago. Participation in the trip is free to all summer participants.