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Simpson College has been awarded a grant from the Department of Education to continue the Upward Bound (UB) project for five years, beginning in August of 2022.
The UB project will serve five high-need high schools in the Des Moines area. These schools include East High School, North High School, Lincoln High School, Saydel High School and Indianola High School. It will also serve a portion of the Des Moines Independent School District, the state's largest and most diverse district.
The Simpson College UB proposal has secured ample institutional and community support. “We are fortunate to have developed multiple partnerships with Simpson College, Des Moines Public Schools Community Partnership and area Upward Bound programs that strengthen our ability to serve our students,” stated Caleb Carver, Upward Bound Director.
UB services will be provided to students with demonstrated academic needs who are low-income or potential first-generation college students, with at least two-thirds of all participants meeting both mentioned criteria. The Simpson College UB project will assess participant needs and provide comprehensive services, including academic tutoring, academic and personal counseling, college visits, career counseling, guardian workshops and activities, cultural events and more.
The project will work to improve participant outcomes in many ways. It is expected that 90 percent of senior participants will persist in school or graduate with a regular secondary school diploma; 65 percent will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better at the end of each academic year; and 60 percent of participants who are high school graduates will immediately enroll in postsecondary education