Veterans Upward Bound Program

Posted by University of Pennsylvania on July 28, 2014

University of Pennsylvania
Veterans Upward Bound Program
220 S. 40th St., Suite 260
Philadelphia, PA 19104
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/aap/vub/
Office Telephone: (215) 898-6892 / Fax Number: (215) 898-9301

What is the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program?
The Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program at the University of Pennsylvania is a FREE, non-credited, pre-college program funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The primary goal of VUB is to prepare at least 160 eligible veterans each year to enter college, be successful in college, and to graduate from college within four to six years.

In order for you to be fully prepared for college, the VUB program emulates the college experience. High expectations will be placed on you while attending VUB in order tosupport your success at VUB and then later in college.

Our Program Cycles
UB operates three program cycles during the year – September, January, and May. Each cycle is fifteen weeks in length. We actively recruit through the first week of classes for each cycle.

Classes are held Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10:00am and 9:30 p.m. Classes offered by VUB are Literature 100, 200 or 300; Language Lab 100, 200 or 300; Spanish 200 or 300; Math 100, 200, or 300; Laboratory Science 200 or 300; Computer
100, 200 or 300; and Informative Workshops. VUB reserves the right to modify its
program and classes at any time.

Am I eligible for VUB?
To be eligible for VUB, you must meet the following requirements. A few requirements include that you must:
 Be committed to attending and graduating from a two-year or four-year college or university within the next three to six years.
 Be highly motivated to successfully complete VUB. Please know that VUB is an intensive Pre-College program and you will be required to meet high expectations. This is to prepare you for your long-term academic success.
 Be able to commit to attending classes when scheduled and on time.
 Have served 181 days of active duty in the military since January 31, 1955 (please call the VUB office if active duty is less than 181 days);
 OR was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days (at least 31 days), OR if you were called to active duty for less than 30 days served in support of a contingency operation on or after September 11, 2001.
 Have a discharge other than dishonorable (a copy of your DD 214 OR letter of service from the VA is required).
 Provide VUB with a copy of your recent 1040-tax form OR any document that verifies your income made or monies received. If you do not have such a document a form in the VUB office must be completed.
 Not have a bachelor’s degree and not be currently enrolled in school.
 Be a first generation college student whose parents have never received a bachelor’s degree OR meet income requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education for Federal TRIO Program.
 Resident of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, or Camden Counties

The Next Step
If you are interested in participating in VUB, you will need to do the following:
1) Call the VUB office at (215) 898-6892 to find out if you are eligible. If you are eligible for VUB, you will be given a date and time to take a 3-5 hour computerized, non-timed assessment in Reading, Writing, and Math.
2) On the date and time of your assessment, you will complete an application packet. During this time you will need to bring the following with you: a copy of your DD-214 or letter of service from the VA, a copy of your most recent 1040-tax form, and two (2) letters of recommendation, printed by hand or typed, which state why you would be a strong candidate for VUB. If you do not have these items on when you arrive to your assessment, you can bring them to the VUB office later.
3) After the assessment, you will be scheduled for an intake interview. During the intake interview, you will be interviewed so that we can learn more about you, informed of your assessment results, receive answers to your questions about VUB, and receive your admission status.
We cordially invite you to take part in this unique and exciting opportunity! Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (215) 898-6892.

Program Benefits
As a VUB student you will be able to:
 Be fully prepared to enter college, succeed in college, and graduate from college.
 Receive free, pre-college, non-credited courses and textbooks. Textbooks must be returned if students do not complete the program.
 Complete a Student Goal Sheet and meet with the VUB Counselor to discuss and plan your academic and career goals.
 Receive tutoring in all subjects.
 Attend special events and activities such as the annual Alumni Night and College Fair and cultural and enrichment trips and activities.
 Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to determine your eligibility for federal assistance (grants, loans, or work-study) for college.
 Complete a Scholarship Search to receive a list of scholarships to which you can apply.
 Receive assistance with the college admissions process. All students are required to complete a college application to the college of their choice or provide a copy of a college acceptance letter if less than one year old.
 Complete a career assessment inventory that will help you to understand your work interests and to show you careers in which you might be comfortable based on their interests.
 Receive valuable information on preparing for college, paying for college, time management, stress, taking notes, and taking tests. You will also receive up-to-date information from the Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs and college information from various college recruiters.
 Utilize resources available at the University of Pennsylvania or be referred to resources in the community if needed.
 Interact with fellow veterans during the program cycle, which can foster relationships that can last a lifetime.
 Submit an article, short story, or poem for the tri-annual VUB newsletter, The Warrior’s Journal.
 Verbalize your individual concerns and ideas directly with the VUB staff and document them on your Program, Course, and Tutor Evaluation.
 Share your joy and pride of successfully completing the VUB program with family and friends during the annual VUB Graduation Ceremony.

Please call – 215-898-6892 to arrange a visit