TRIO Upward Bound

What is Upward Bound?

The Upward Bound Program (UB) is a federally funded program in a cluster of programs referred to as TRIO. The TRIO programs began after the enactment of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Muskegon Community College (MCC) has received continual funding for the TRIO UB Program since 1978.

The MCC TRIO Upward Bound program is designed to assist high school students reach their potential by earning a college degree. UB serves high school students from low-income families and who are first-generation college students (their parents did not graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree), and primarily supports students at Muskegon Public Schools, Muskegon Heights Public Schools Academy System, and Orchard View Schools.

UB provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their high school performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. The goal of UB is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

TRIO is a group of federally funded programs begun in the 1960s to create educational opportunities for students whose parents do not have four-year college degrees and whose taxable income is at or below 150% of the poverty level. Upward Bound was created with the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the original “War on Poverty” statute.

The Muskegon Community College TRIO Upward Bound Project is 100 percent federally funded at $309,505 annually.  The overriding goal of the Upward Bound Project is to assist students throughout high school to ensure that they are adequately prepared to enroll in post-secondary education and to matriculate through to completion of a post-secondary degree. During this process, it is also desired that the students acquire a sense of community and develop into contributing members of society through their involvement in community service projects and volunteer work. Serving those who live in Muskegon and the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy district for the past 18 years, with over 400 participating students.

MISSION: “Equipping high school students from Muskegon and Muskegon Heights Public School Academy and Orchard View Schools with the resources and support they need to achieve academic excellence, contribute to their community, graduate high school, and pursue higher education.”

Who can participate?

To participate, students must have:

*Completed the 8th grade but not the 11th grade and plan on attending Muskegon High School, Muskegon Heights High School or Orchard View High School.

*Be a United States citizen or have permanent residency status

*Meet income requirements

*Be first generation – that is, the parent(s)/guardian(s) with whom the child is living does not have a four-year college degree, OR

*Have a strong desire to attend college upon successful completion of high school

What does it cost?  Nothing!  Program participation is absolutely free to those students who qualify.

The TRIO Upward Bound Project application materials are available online. If you have a computer and printer, you can download these documents (links below) and complete the application from home.

Required Documents:

Application Form

Permission and Photo Release Form

Student Essay

Adult Recommendation Form

Needs Self-Assessment

Qualifying Statement

Medical Statement

School Records Release Form

Please return all of these completed documents to the TRIO Upward Bound Project Office:
Muskegon Community College
TRIO Upward Bound Project
221 S. Quarterline Road #2041
Muskegon, MI 49442

TRIO Upward Bound Project Links:

Department of Education Trio Home Page

Council for Opportunity in Education

MI-CAPP Home Page