Upward Bound

Upward Bound has two primary components:

Academic component runs on the traditional school calendar and provides online tutoring, advising, mentoring, cultural enrichment, career exploration, ACT preparation, college search assistance, college visits, college application assistance, FAFSA workshops, leadership development and cultural events.

Summer residential component runs for six weeks in June and July. Participants come to Simpson’s campus twice a week and are provided: academic instruction along with mentoring, cultural enrichment, work-study opportunities, service-learning opportunities, career exploration activities, college visits and field trips. In addition, there is a virtual component to accommodate student’s summer schedules. At the end of the summer program, students are taken on a three to five day cultural trip as a reward for successful completion of the academic and summer components of the program.

Simpson College Upward Bound also offers graduating seniors a program called Bridge. This program assists students in a smooth transition from life as a high school student to life as an independent college student. Bridge students live on Simpson’s campus and take a for credit college class.

• East High School, Des Moines
• Indianola High School
• Lincoln High School, Des Moines
• North High School, Des Moines
• Saydel High Schoo

An individual is eligible to participate in Upward Bound project if the individual meets all of the following three requirements:

1. Proof of citizenship:
   • Is a citizen or national of the United States OR
   • Is a permanent resident of the United States OR
   • Provides evidence of his or her intent to become a permanent resident.
2. A desire to attend post-secondary education:
   • A potential first-generation college student AND/OR
   • A low-income individual AND/OR
   • An individual who has a high risk for academic failure
   • Has a need for academic support.
3.  Demographic information:
   • Has completed the eighth grade and is at least 13 years old but not older than 19 AND
   • must also attend or be entering one of the following six high schools: East, Lincoln, North, Indianola, Norwalk or Saydel.

Who is a first-generation college student?
A first-generation college student is one for whom neither parent/legal guardian have not completed a four-year college program.

Download the:

• Simpson College Upward Bound solicitud estudiantil
• Simpson College Upward Bound Student Application English
• Simpson College Upward Bound Student Application Swahili 

And Send to Caleb Carver, Upward Bound Director caleb.carver@simpson.edu

Simpson College Upward Bound
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125

Caleb Carver, Upward Bound Director
(515) 414-9848 | caleb.carver@simpson.edu

Reahnna Singleton, Administrative Assistant
(515) 901-6126 | reahnna.singleton@simpson.edu