RUNNINGHEAD: AGENCY PROJECT 1

Agency Report Upward Bound

Whitney Harris

Wilmington University
Agency Report 2

The Upward Bound Program is a pre-college program designed to

motivate eligible high-school student to enter and successfully complete

post- secondary education, whether a two or four year College, technical

school or other. The program provides the opportunity for the student to

strengthen academic skill in math (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry,

Calculus); Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics); Foreign Language (French,

Spanish); English (Writing, Research, Literature, Reading); Study Skills and

P/SAT and build self-confidence and social skills necessary to succeed in

school and life. (Education, 2017)

The mission of University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Upward Bound Program

is to provide 111 eligible students the skills and motivation to enroll in and successfully complete

postsecondary education. Special concern will be given in enrolling and serving higher risk

academic students. (Education, 2017)

Demographics of Target
Area
CHART 1
WICOMICO
SOMERSET
CRITERIA FOR NEED COUNTY COUNTY

1 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE

80.9 261.8
MD Department of Planning, 2010

2 Total Population
26,470 98,733
US Census 2010

3 School Age Population Ages 3-over

7,753 25,828
US Census 2010
Agency Report 3

4 Unemployment Rates

Maryland Department of Business & 10.3% 8.7%

Economic Development, 2010

5 Percent of Persons Below Poverty Line

US Census, State & County Quick Facts 24% 13.2%
2009

6 Per Capita Personal Income

$17,126 $24,425
Maryland Department of Planning, 2010

7
Poverty Status Single Parent Head of 45.2% 40.2%
Household with children under 18
US Census 2010, MD Department of 2nd highest in state 4th highest in state
Planning 2010

8 Percentage of Persons in Target Area

with Education Below Baccalaureate
Degreeage 25+ 82% 85.1%

US Census 2010

9 Drop Out Rate

4.56% 4.52%
MD Department of Education Fact Book, nd
Highest in state 2 Highest in state
2009-2010

10 4 year college
52.8%

2 year college
4 year college 44.1%
26.9.5%
2 year college 34.6%
Specialized
school/training Specialized school/training 5.0%
4.4% Military 4.9%
Graduate Decision Military

MD Department of Education 2009 2.8%

11 Actual Completing University of

Maryland System Requirements for
Entry 43.2% 45.7%

MD Department of Education 2010

12 Teacher Salaries
55,331
MD Department of Education Fact Book 57,824
Lowest in state
2009-2010

The two counties Somerset and Wicomico are they target serving area for the program at

the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). You will notice eighty-two percent of this
Agency Report 4

population has less than a bachelors degree. The lack of educational values is high in these

counties.

Structure

The Upward bound program governance follows as such: following law of the land, the

Department of Education, the Education Department General administrative Regulations book

Agency Report 5

(edgar) and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Above in the structure shows the chain of

commands for the University that this particular Upward Bound has to follow.

The upward Bound Program is fully funded by the Department of education. They do

seek other grants such as the Ronald E. Mcnair postbaccalaureate Achievement grant and the

upward bound math and science grant.

Upward bound is connected to other schools such as Morgan State, Salisbury University,

and College Park. They also have a connection with Maryland Coastal Bay, Council for

Opportunity in Education (COE) DC, National Park Service, Living Marine Resource

Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC). Their connection with these places is so they can show

the students other jobs outside of the norm.

Interviewing the staff I asked questions on what they feel the strengths, trends and

challenges of the agency were. The strengths of the program was being able to help the

community, taking students out of their local environment, and bringing culture to them. Other

strengths were taking them out of their comfort zone to be ready for college. Some of the

challenges were that they are millennial students and everything is about their communication on

the cell phone. As students they have a lack of interest in school and understanding of the value

of education. As administrators they have a hard time connecting and recruiting. The lack of

parent involvement hurts the students longevity in the program. The trends in upward bound

would be the lack of participation, they are not as focus as they should be, and stuck in their

ways of wanting instant gratification. One the major trends are, disconnect of peer connection.
Agency Report 6

The students do not openly meet new people, how to break that has been a struggle in the past

couple years.

My role as an intern is to build a summer program around the students normal summer

school schedule. I will do this by networking with older upward bound alumni, and scheduling

them to speak with current student. I will schedule trips making sure they are still educational but

fun. Other tasks include assisting in the grant proposal and building a newsletter for parents and

students. Lastly I will try to connect the administration with technology. Building a online

evaluation of the program is my first task.

Reference
Education, t. M. (2017). Upward Bound Program- Mission. Retrieved from University
of Maryland Eastern shore: https://www.umes.edu/UpwardBound/
Upward Bound Program . (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2016, from Federal TRIO
Programs: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html
Upward Bound Program. (2016). Retrieved November 13, 2016, from A University
System of Maryland institution: https://www.umes.edu/upwardbound/