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Project Upward Bound

Vandenberg Hall, Room 120
502 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester , Michigan 48309-4452
(location map)
(248) 370-3218
Fax: (248) 370-3217
[email protected]

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Extended hours on select Saturdays (see schedule) or call for an appointment

Project Upward Bound

Vandenberg Hall, Room 120
502 Meadow Brook Road
Rochester , Michigan 48309-4452
(location map)
(248) 370-3218
Fax: (248) 370-3217
[email protected]

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Extended hours on select Saturdays (see schedule) or call for an appointment

Four people studying at a table in a library.

Scholar Life Cycle

The Academic Year Program begins in mid-September and runs through March of the following calendar year. It provides a variety of advantages: 

  • Student Success Plan (SSP): Upon admission and each year thereafter, PUB Scholars and their parents work with the Project Advisor to develop specific short-term goals that will, if followed, lead Scholars to the desired success level.
  • Academic Development Plan (ADP): Upon admission and as needed, the Academic Coordinator creates and updates an Academic Development Plan that, if followed, will lead Scholars to greater academic achievement.
  • Leadership Development: PUB Scholars who have spent a summer on campus and who remain active in PUB are more likely to be selected to represent PUB at state, regional, and national student leadership conferences - all expenses paid by PUB. 

Enrichment Classes: At cooperating target schools, PUB offers a daily enrichment class that incorporates all of the academic aspects of College Club, PUB Club, and Saturday Academy. These Scholars are still expected to participate in select special programming and community service that occurs on Saturdays. 

College Clubs: At each school that does not offer PUB’s enrichment class, Academic Mentors come once weekly to lend assistance to Scholars who need tutoring, test preparation, help with homework completion, and/or study skills. Light snacks are provided and students are allowed to ride the late bus. 

Saturday Academies: PUB Scholars from schools that do not offer PUB’s enrichment class come to Oakland University on select Saturdays to prepare for success on the state proficiency exam. As juniors they transition into College Seminar to explore careers and research colleges to find a good fit. Then in Senior Seminar they work on securing financial aid and admission to their best-fit postsecondary schools. Breakfast is provided each Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and classes usually dismiss by 12:30 p.m. That leaves plenty of time for weekend work!

There are several Saturday activities for all Scholars:

  • Community Service: PUB Scholars are able to meet their school’s 40-hour graduation requirement by volunteering with PUB for at least 10 hours per year from their freshman through their senior year. (See Social Enrichment for specific projects.)
  • College/Career Day: A different experience each year exposes PUB Scholars to careers they may never have heard of and hands-on engagement that equips them with life skills including opportunities to network with college students and career professionals.
  • Graduation/Recognition Banquet: Each year PUB celebrates attendance, service, and academic accomplishments of all Scholars with a banquet. But graduating seniors are stars of the show! 

PUB Clubs: Once monthly PUB’s Project Advisor facilitates group activities at the school based on the Character Development Curriculum of the Michigan Curriculum Framework. PUB Clubs are also where stipend checks are distributed.

First Year

Summer 1

  • Every student who applies receives a letter stating the disposition of their application usually by the end of June. Students who are admitted become active in the fall.
  • Before becoming active, in August new PUB Scholars must take the Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED) to identify the grade level (year & month) at which he/she is performing and the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory for High School (LASSI-HS). Assessment dates are announced each year.

Academic Year 1

  • Attend mandatory New Student Academic Year Orientation with a parent. (A fall orientation is held every year because the student’s schedule changes from year to year.)
  • Twice monthly Saturday Academies focus on ACT prep until 2nd semester of 11th grade.
  • Students are expected to attend after-school College Club once weekly for 2 hours for Study Skills, tutoring, and assistance with class projects.
  • Every PUB Scholar meets with the Project Advisor for a Student Success Planning (SSP) meeting to establish academic, social, cultural, and career goals and action plans so that Scholars have a focus for their efforts. The process identifies the roles that the Scholar, Parent, and PUB will play in achieving the goals.
  • All PUB Scholars must create a portfolio that includes a genealogy, resume, transcript, and certificates and awards.
  • One Saturday Academy annually is designated for College/Career Day where the focus is on an activity that enhances Scholars’ preparation for college and careers.
  • After a Scholar has been active for 60 days, he/she becomes eligible to receive a stipend. The first stipend paid will be retroactive to his/her first entry date and is distributed at the monthly PUB Club group meeting at school with the Project Advisor.
  • Community Service is done on Saturdays in November, December, and February.
  • First practice ACT to identify where further enrichment is needed.
  • Another ITED is taken at the end of the school year to measure academic progress that has occurred since the August ITED.
Second Year

Summer 2

  • Attend mandatory Summer Academy orientation w/parent.
  • Enroll in first residential Summer Academy – live on campus, attend classes, dining etiquette training, performances, field trip, earn extended trip (A/B honor roll, no absences, at least 80 behavior points).
  • Earn a stipend to be received in a lump sum at the end of Summer Academy.
  • ITED to measure academic progress that has been made over the summer.

Academic Year 2

  • Orientation, College Club, Saturday Academies, PUB Club/Stipends.
  • Portfolio and SSP updates; College/Career Day; Community Service.
  • Practice ACT, ITED.
  • Scholar takes a Career Occupational Preference Survey (COPS) to identify career options that would be good fits for his/her personal characteristics, skills, and interests.
Third Year

Summer 3

  • Early College Program (ITA) or
  • PUB refers appropriate Scholars to residential summer programs at other colleges or
  • Scholar spends second Summer Academy at OU if needed or
  • Work

Academic Year 3

  • Orientation, College Club, Saturday Academies, PUB Club/Stipends.
  • Portfolio and SSP updates; College/Career Day; Community Service.
  • Practice ACT, post-ITED.
  • Juniors stay in ACT Prep during Saturday Academy until taking the MME/ACT.
  • After taking the MME/ACT, juniors go into College Seminar (which is their Early Summer Academy) and continue to come every Saturday for 6 weeks.
  • Select juniors are chosen to attend State Student Leadership Summit.
Fourth Year

Summer 4

  • Select rising seniors are chosen to attend National Student Leadership Congress.
  • Early College Program (ITA) or
  • PUB sends well-behaved Scholars to residential summer programs at other colleges or
  • Work or spend family time before going away to college.

Academic Year 4

  • Orientation, College Club, Saturday Academies, PUB Club/Stipends.
  • Portfolio and SSP updates; College/Career Day; Community Service, Final ITED.
  • Senior Seminar: 
    • Write college essay
    • Submit Applications: college, financial aid, and scholarships (waivers provided)
    • Translate hard copy portfolio into electronic portfolio
  • Select seniors go to Regional Student Leadership Conference.
  • Exit Interview with Project Advisor.
  • PUB Graduation ceremony/banquet (certificate & honor cord) with parents.