TRIO Upward Bound summer students and programs adapt to pandemic

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Upward Bound programs at Purdue University Fort Wayne aren’t limited to the 9-month academic calendar. There are courses and activities that take place all year round for high school students who are interested in going to college.

One of Upward Bound’s most popular summer programs just wrapped up last week. Since the beginning of June, 51 prospective college students took part in the annual Summer Academy, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Summer Academy is designed to give high school students who are interested in going to college a taste of what college life is really like. However, the pandemic made organizers change to a virtual, rather than a hands-on or on-site, experience.

“Our summer academy relies heavily on in-person interaction. This is a time when, usually, we really see our students, both academically and socially, grow and bond, but this was difficult being virtual,” said Nicholas Gray, director of Upward Bound. “Students did well, but are tired of online learning and ready to be around each other and doing program activities.”

The students took math and language arts Mondays and Wednesdays, science and foreign language on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and special activities and leadership, financial literacy, and practice SAT sessions on Fridays. Even though the students couldn’t live on campus and interact with the Upward Bound resident assistants—a popular aspect of the program in previous years—they still had virtual activity nights with them Tuesday evenings.

Gray noted, however, that sometimes, not as many students who wanted to, could attend those sessions “because, unfortunately, many of our students are the only one in their household who is working. With the pandemic impacting so many family jobs, we had a higher than usual number of students working, many of them working 40 or more hours a week.”

Each student who needed a computer or tablet was provided one by the program. The students also received a face mask, and one class was devoted to the proper use and care of the mask, social distancing, and washing hands.

Three other Upward Bound programs that are open to academy students and others are taking place in July and August.

The work-study program is just getting underway, and around 20 students are currently working on their career research papers and presentations. Upward Bound staff are occupied in placing these students in job-shadowing experiences, which due to the pandemic, will be conducted by doing virtual interviews.

Three other students are participating in Upward Bounds’ Summer Bridge program, where they take an actual class in preparation to becoming a full-time student for the fall semester. The class being taught this summer is Introduction to Sociology, which includes a weekly session with an Upward Bound advisor.

Upward Bound’s Preprofessional Program was also impacted by COVID-19: they could not do in-person internships. Instead, they interviewed professionals in law enforcement, marketing, social services, and multiple medical professions. A few students were able to job-shadow for several hours, and another student is working with a local small business to help update its marketing and advertising. The students also attended sessions led by the Career Development Center.

“All in all, the program went well, and we are happy with the first virtual summer academy we have ever done,” noted Gray, “although we can’t wait to be back on campus next year!”

For more information on Upward Bound and its programs, contact Gray at [email protected], or go the website.

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