Department Awards $14.3 Million for 51 Grants to Boost Veterans' Success in Higher Education

Press Release

Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced the award of $14,392,377 for 51 Veterans Upward Bound projects, which will help some 6,831 veterans acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college. The projects aim to increase the college-going and completion rates of low-income, first-generation military veterans, and support the Administration's ongoing commitment to improving service members' transition from military life to civilian life by fostering educational opportunities and career and workforce readiness. The projects also support the President's goal for America to be first in the world in college graduates by 2020.

"No group deserves our support for opportunities to learn and advance their knowledge and skills more than our veterans," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "These Upward Bound Veterans grants will help prepare our returning veterans for college by providing the academic instruction, mentoring and guidance they need to succeed in college and in life."

In addition to instruction in all the core subject areas, grantees will assist veterans participating in their projects through other activities, such as: refresher or remedial courses when needed; financial and personal counseling; tutoring and mentoring; assistance in preparing for college entrance exams and financial aid application; information about postsecondary opportunities, and help in connecting with other resources designed to assist veterans.

Veterans Upward Bound, which was added to the Upward Bound program in 1972, is one of three types of programs funded under the Upward Bound program, which is one of seven outreach and student services programs under the TRIO umbrella. The other programs are:

Educational Opportunity Centers
Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement
Student Support Services
Talent Search
Training Program for Federal TRIO programs
Upward Bound
Upward Bound Math and Science
Since the FY 2007 competition, this program has served about 5,780 returning veterans. Grants are five-year projects.

For more information on the Veterans Upward Bound program, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triovub/index.html

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