WKU's Veterans Upward Bound
Funded For Four More Years
June 23, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - A program that has helped more than 1,500 veterans continue their education has been funded for an additional four years.
Veterans Upward Bound at Western Kentucky University, which started in 1992, is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is the only program of its kind in Kentucky and one of 43 programs in the United States.
The program will receive $270,759 for the first year of the refunding.
Many VUB graduates are attending postsecondary school now and more than 60 have graduated from postsecondary schools, according to Director Randy Wilson. "Without VUB, most, if not all of these veterans, would not have attempted to continue their education after high school," he said.
The program helps qualified veterans improve and refresh their academic skills so that they can enroll in and graduate from a college, university, vocational school or technical school. "In fact, each year VUB recognizes the accomplishments of its graduates who have gone on to complete associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and certificate programs," Wilson said. "VUB has helped some of its participants become teachers, counselors, and leaders in the workplace."
One of the most important ways that VUB helps its participants is by giving them the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in a postsecondary setting. Most VUB
students want to refresh their math, computer, English and writing skills. Some even want to learn a foreign language. All participants gain valuable study skills and work habits, essential components of success in school.
Students in the VUB program receive individual help and often work in small group settings with two instructors. Classes are held year round and students can enroll at any time. They meet for two and one-half hours two days per week. Flexible class meeting days and times accommodate hectic adult schedules. The VUB counselor and instructors assist students with career advising and completing the admissions process and financial aid and scholarship applications.
VUB is free for its participants. All texts and other educational materials are provided. Vets are even paid a small stipend to cover travel expenses.
VUB enjoys the support of the local American Legion Post 0023 and VFW Post 1298 both of whom have provide money for a scholarship fund that provides an annual VUB scholarship for graduates of the program who go on to postsecondary school, Wilson said.
More about Western Kentucky University's Veterans Upward Bound by checking going to this URL http://www.wku.edu/VUB. The group's national website is http://veteransupwardbound.org. Staff at VUB can be reached at (270) 745-5310, by e-mailing Veterans.Upward.Bound@wku.edu or by writing to Veterans Upward Bound, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576.
More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
