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Oakland City University Upward Bound
Purpose Upward Bound is an educational program funded by the United States Department of Education, and its services help students in their ability to successfully complete secondary and post-secondary education. Upward Bound provides academic support, personal/career counseling, and cultural enrichment. The OCU UB program seeks to provide participants with the pre-collegiate academic skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond high school. Services are provided to students during the academic year (including one Saturday Academy session per month), as well as the Summer Academy. Eligibility Upward Bound is open to incoming Freshmen, current Freshmen, current Sophomores, current Juniors, and current Seniors attending the following counties/high schools (name of High School in parentheses): Gibson County (Wood Memorial), Pike (Pike Central), Martin (Shoals), Orange (Paoli and Springs Valley), Perry (Cannelton and Tell City), and Crawford (Crawford County). Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the OCU UB program:
Final selection is based upon the following criteria:
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Oakland City University Upward Bound "Country"Oakland City University Upward Bound serves 8 school corporations in south west Indiana.
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Mission Statement
The Oakland City University Upward Bound Program is an intensive, year-round college-preparatory program. Our mission is to assist eligible high school students in the successful completion of secondary education, and to prepare each of them academically and socially for enrollment and completion of higher education in a post-secondary institution of the student’s choice.
The mission also instills the ideas of achievement in all aspects necessary to succeed collegiately, and includes building an atmosphere that enhances positive self-esteem, while fostering unity and collaboration. In essence, The Oakland City University Upward Bound Program helps students achieve their full potential. |
Vision Statement
The Oakland City University Upward Bound Program promotes the principle that a post-secondary education is the threshold to accomplishment and opportunity for traditionally under-represented, low-income, first-generation youth.
We believe that with adequate preparation and guidance, those students who have the desire to attend college, and are committed to putting forth the effort required to achieve their goals, will be able to complete their post-secondary studies and accomplish lifelong ambitions. |
Meet Our Team
Charity Julian
Interim Director
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Melissa Baxter
Academic/Guidance Counselor
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Benefits of Upward Bound
There are a number of benefits that can be gained by participation in the OCU UB program. Examples of these benefits include the following:
- Improvement of academic skills;
- Tutorial services;
- Career and academic counseling;
- Cultural/Educational field trips;
- Assistance with college admission and financial aid applications;
- Assistance with ACT/SAT preparation;
- Monthly stipends throughout the entire year;
- Summer Work-Study program;
- Meeting new friends
For more information please see the Target School Handbook below:
Features of Upward Bound
OCU UB is divided into two major phases:
During the academic year, UB students will receive tutoring, study- and test-taking skills instruction, college awareness, counseling, and other activities designed to promote high school success and preparation for college. UB students will be expected to attend weekly tutorial and counseling sessions in their respective high school.
An additional part of the academic year activities is the Saturday Academy. The Saturday Academy is comprised of the following: workshops; additional tutoring; ACT/SAT preparation; financial aid information; career information; and cultural activities/events.
The Summer Academy is a six-week residential experience. Each May, selected OCU UB students will move into OCU dorms. The Summer Academy has two components: 1) Non-Bridge (Rising 8th Graders through Sophomores); and 2) Bridge (Juniors and Seniors). [Grades listed refers to grade level most recently completed].
Non-Bridge activities may focus on issues such as self-esteem or cultural awareness topics. Students will attend courses in math, science, language arts, and electives. These courses are designed to help students in preparing for the next school year. In addition, students will participate in various enrichment courses (such as art, computer science, cultural awareness, and more). Courses will be held five days per week (Monday – Friday), including time used for cultural activities/events, group meetings, etc.
Bridge activities consist of high school graduates (having just completed Senior year), and incoming Seniors (having just completed Junior year of high school) are encouraged to enrolling in Summer courses on the OCU campus. These students will take regular college courses, and will be able to receive six (6) credit hours of college credit during the Summer Academy.
Our program also offers a Summer Work-Study Program to all students in our program. This program provides selected students with experience in careers requiring four-year Bachelor’s Degree or higher. This allows students to see what it is like to work in fields of their choice or ones that closely relate to their choice.
Students successfully participating in the program will also be provided with a monthly stipend from the OCU UB program.
- the Academic Year/Saturday Academy; and
- Summer Academy.
During the academic year, UB students will receive tutoring, study- and test-taking skills instruction, college awareness, counseling, and other activities designed to promote high school success and preparation for college. UB students will be expected to attend weekly tutorial and counseling sessions in their respective high school.
An additional part of the academic year activities is the Saturday Academy. The Saturday Academy is comprised of the following: workshops; additional tutoring; ACT/SAT preparation; financial aid information; career information; and cultural activities/events.
The Summer Academy is a six-week residential experience. Each May, selected OCU UB students will move into OCU dorms. The Summer Academy has two components: 1) Non-Bridge (Rising 8th Graders through Sophomores); and 2) Bridge (Juniors and Seniors). [Grades listed refers to grade level most recently completed].
Non-Bridge activities may focus on issues such as self-esteem or cultural awareness topics. Students will attend courses in math, science, language arts, and electives. These courses are designed to help students in preparing for the next school year. In addition, students will participate in various enrichment courses (such as art, computer science, cultural awareness, and more). Courses will be held five days per week (Monday – Friday), including time used for cultural activities/events, group meetings, etc.
Bridge activities consist of high school graduates (having just completed Senior year), and incoming Seniors (having just completed Junior year of high school) are encouraged to enrolling in Summer courses on the OCU campus. These students will take regular college courses, and will be able to receive six (6) credit hours of college credit during the Summer Academy.
Our program also offers a Summer Work-Study Program to all students in our program. This program provides selected students with experience in careers requiring four-year Bachelor’s Degree or higher. This allows students to see what it is like to work in fields of their choice or ones that closely relate to their choice.
Students successfully participating in the program will also be provided with a monthly stipend from the OCU UB program.
Upward Bound Curriculum
OCU UB is intended as a comprehensive program, and is directed toward the total development of the student.
At the same time, our program will not attempt to replicate the traditional high school academic program. This is accomplished through the implementation of an innovative programmatic design to meet each student’s wide variety of needs.
The OCU UB program, through this curriculum, can offer several advantages to the student. These include a relatively small student-teacher ratio, which allows for more individual attention, more tutorial assistance, more creative teaching methods, and a variety of learning environments.
At the same time, our program will not attempt to replicate the traditional high school academic program. This is accomplished through the implementation of an innovative programmatic design to meet each student’s wide variety of needs.
The OCU UB program, through this curriculum, can offer several advantages to the student. These include a relatively small student-teacher ratio, which allows for more individual attention, more tutorial assistance, more creative teaching methods, and a variety of learning environments.
Curricular Pursuit
The OCU UB program encourages the use of creative approaches to fulfill student needs. The following facilities/activities support this premise:
- OCU Library – OCU UB students will be provided with appropriate access to materials;
- OCU Computer Labs – OCU UB students will be provided with appropriate access to computer labs;
- Evening Tutoring – Participants may have the opportunity to schedule evening tutoring sessions with UB Staff concerning academic difficulties in a specific area.
- Student Council – The student council provides a forum for participants to take a more active role in the management of the OCU UB program. Students are encouraged to participate to assist in facilitating the development of leadership skills. This group is especially active during the Summer Academy.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Upward Bound Program
Oakland City University
138 North Lucretia Street
Oakland City, IN 47660
Other Useful OCU Contact Information:
Upward Bound Program
Oakland City University
138 North Lucretia Street
Oakland City, IN 47660
Other Useful OCU Contact Information:
- Main Office: 800-737-5125
- Information Technology: 812-749-1500 ; e-mail: ithelpdesk@oak.edu
- Library: Barger-Richardson Learning Resource Center: 812-749-1269, or iLL@oak.edu
- For General Campus Non-Emergency Security Issues: 812-749-1421
- For more contact information regarding OCU Campus Safety, please refer to the following link: https://www.oak.edu/student-life/campus-safety
- Brad Knotts, Director of Student Life: (812) 749-1215, or bknotts@oak.edu
About Oakland City
Oakland City, a small rural town, is located in Gibson County in Southwestern Indiana. This rustic community is the home of Oakland City University, a liberal arts, post-secondary institution. Founded in 1885, this four-year, co-educational institution continues to dedicate itself to the service of its community, the surrounding area of southwestern Indiana, and the Midwestern United States, in general. Traditionally, the University has been committed to assisting economically- and culturally-disadvantaged youth and adults in their educational endeavors.