BW Upward Bound program wins new federal funding to boost college access

The five-year award supports one of the longest-running TRiO Upward Bound programs in Ohio, serving some 5,000 Cleveland high school students since 1968.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Baldwin Wallace University more than $513,000 in grant funding to support the University's TRiO Upward Bound program.

The new award cycle grant will serve 105 students from four Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) high schools: John Adams, John F. Kennedy, James F. Rhodes and Lincoln West.

The TRiO Upward Bound program has been on the BW campus for 54 years, one of the longest-standing TRiO programs in the state of Ohio.

Formula that works for students

"TRiO works at BW," says Bonnie Munguia, director of the University's Upward Bound. "The program has served over 5,000 CMSD students since it began on this campus in 1968, with approximately 65% of those students completing a post-secondary education."

In fact, according to the Council for Opportunity on Education, "Students in the Upward Bound program are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate college degree than students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in TRiO programs."

Range of free services

Upward Bound works by providing pre-college support to high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree.

Among the many services provided at no charge are advanced tutoring in preparation for end-of-year exams and college placement tests, academic advising, career and college exploration, financial aid assistance, educational and cultural events, and a residential Summer Academy that simulates the college environment to prepare students for the social and academic aspects of college life.

The new U.S. Department of Education grant covers a five-year funding cycle.