The purpose of the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program is to assist veterans in preparing for entry in and completion of a program of postsecondary education.

A Veterans Upward Bound Program must provide the following services:

• Academic tutoring to enable participant to complete secondary or postsecondary courses, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science and other subjects;
• Advice and assistance in secondary and postsecondary course selection;
• Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications;
• Information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits (including Federal Pell Grant awards and loan forgiveness) and resources for locating public and private scholarships;
• Guidance on and assistance in secondary school reentry; alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma; entry into general educational development (GED) programs or entry into postsecondary education; and
• Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants, including financial planning for postsecondary education;
• Any project that has received funds for at least two years must include as part of its core curriculum in the next and succeeding years, instruction in mathematics through pre-calculus; laboratory science; foreign language; composition; and literature;
• Provide intensive basic skills development in those academic subjects required for completion of a high school equivalency program and for admission to postsecondary education programs;
• Provide short-term remedial or refresher courses for veterans who are high school graduates but who have delayed pursuing postsecondary education. If the grantee is an institution of higher education, these courses shall not duplicate courses otherwise available to veterans at the institution;
• Assist veterans in securing support services from other locally available resources such as Veterans Administration, State veterans agencies, veterans associations, and other state and local agencies that serve veterans; and
• Provide special services, including mathematics and science preparation, to enable veterans to make the transition to postsecondary education.

The VUB Program competition is held every four years.

All VUB grants are funded for five-year grant award cycles.

The average VUB grant award amount is $280,429.

The VUB Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

All VUB Program grantees are required to submit an annual performance report (APR) documenting the progress being made towards meeting the approved objectives.

A grantee must maintain a record of –

• The basis for the grantee’s determination that the participant is eligible to participate in the project;
• The basis for the grantee’s determination that the participant has a need for academic support in order to pursue successfully a program of education beyond secondary school;
• The services that are provided to the participant;
• The educational progress of the participant during high school and, to the degree possible, during the participant’s pursuit of a postsecondary education program; and
• To the extent practicable, any services the participant receives during the project year from another Federal TRIO program or another federally-funded program that serves populations similar to those served under the UB program.

Any non-Federal entity that expends a total of $500,000 or more in federal funds must have an annual audit that is conducted under the requirements of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133. In addition, a grantee is required to implement the evaluation plan stated in its funded application.

The success of the VUB Program is measured by the percentage of low-income, first-generation college students who successfully pursue and complete postsecondary education.

Academic instruction in reading, writing, math, science, foreign languages and other subjects as needed; assistance in course selection; assistance with completing college admissions applications; information on financial aid; conducting individual participant needs assessment; development of participant Individual Education Plan; providing information and counseling on college selection; assistance through preparation for college entrance examinations, and cultural enrichment activities.

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