EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University recently announced that its Upward Bound program received a grant renewal that will allow the program to continue serving Ypsilanti students through the 2026-2027 academic year. 

“We are overjoyed at this news,” said Rod Wallace, program director for EMU TRiO Upward Bound. “This ensures that we will continue to serve students and families in collaboration with local businesses, city government and the great educational community of Washtenaw County.” 

TRiO Upward Bound is part of an umbrella of programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education that assists students seeking to be the first in their families to graduate from a postsecondary institution. Because of the efforts of the EMU TRiO Upward Bound administrative team, EMU’s Office of Research and Development administration, and Engage @ EMU, the program will  continue to provide academic support, career and college enrollment counseling, and community engagement to the brilliant students of Ypsilanti Community High School. EMU’s Upward Bound program has been in place for more than 50 years, advocating for the children of Ypsilanti and providing access to resources for youth and families. 

The University will receive more than $2 million to provide academic tutoring and programming, career and college counseling and community engagement to students in Ypsilanti for the next five years. EMU Upward Bound works collaboratively with Ypsilanti Community High School during the school year and provides a month-long residential camp during the summer for its students that includes workshops, college trips and college coursework. This year's camp theme is "Family Reunion," as students will return to campus for the first time for the summer since the pandemic.

For more information, visit the Upward Bound website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up-to-date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.