News

SUNY Adirondack’s Upward Bound Funding Restored

SUNY Adirondack will restore services to students in five local school districts after reinstatement of federal Upward Bound funding that was cut last year.

The funding will allow SUNY Adirondack to again provide academic support, college preparation and other services to eligible students in the Glens Falls, South Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Fort Ann and Fort Edward school districts.

“Upward Bound helps students recognize their potential, build confidence and see a path to college that they might not have otherwise considered,” said Chelsea Foster, director of Student Affairs and Early College Programs at SUNY Adirondack. “We are excited to restore these opportunities for students and families in our partner school districts and continue supporting them as they work toward their academic goals.”

Upward Bound is a federally funded educational program that provides high school students support in their academic performance and pursuit of higher education.

SUNY Adirondack has for many years had two Upward Bound grants serving 13 districts throughout the region. Last year, one of those grants was cut by the federal government, resulting in loss of nearly $325,000 in funding to 63 students in five districts.

The grant was reinstated after a settlement agreement between the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the U.S. Department of Education, resolving litigation over discontinuation and termination of TRIO grants.

Services will restart immediately in the impacted schools. The college will receive this year’s funding as well as last year’s, allowing it to hire additional staff this academic year.

Upward Bound students are assigned advisors and meet weekly throughout the academic year through their high school graduation. They are also provided tutors; financial literacy education; assistance completing financial aid applications for college and searching for scholarship opportunities; SAT and ACT preparation; college and career exploration activities; and a six-week summer college preparation program on SUNY Adirondack’s campus.

To be eligible for Upward Bound, students must be in grades 9 through 12 in a participating school district, and have parents/guardians who have not completed a bachelor’s degree or reside in a household that meets federal income guidelines.

To learn more about Upward Bound at SUNY Adirondack, visit https://sunyacc.edu/programs-courses/high-school-programs/trio-upward-bound.