The U.S. Department of Education has increased funding for Northwest-Shoals Community College’s Upward Bound program by 13%, giving the program nearly $765,000 for the upcoming year.
TRIO Upward Bound will provide five years of funding to help 158 local students per year. About 86% of Upward Bound participants enroll in postsecondary institutions immediately following high-school graduation, according to the Education Department.
“The Upward Bound Program, along with the other TRIO programs, are so important to the students in the communities we serve,” said Jeff Goodwin, president of NW-SCC. “These programs offer academic and support services to help remove barriers that hinder students from pursuing a postsecondary education. Without these programs, many students would not be able to realize their dream of a college degree.”
NW-SCC houses an Upward Bound program on each of its campuses:
Phil Campbell Campus Program will receive $439,973 and will serve Belgreen, Haleyville, Muscle Shoals, Phil Campbell, Red Bay, Russellville, Tharptown and Vina high schools.
Shoals Campus Program will receive $324,980 and will serve Central, Colbert County, Colbert Heights, Florence, Lexington, Rogers, Sheffield and Wilson high schools, along with the Florence Freshman Center.
The Upward Bound program is one of four TRIO programs, including Talent Search, Student Support Services and Upward Bound Math and Science at NW-SCC. The programs are fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
