ABOUT VUB
History of Veterans Upward Bound
In the thick of the Civil Rights Movement, ongoing conflict in Vietnam, and historically high levels of poverty, the Lyndon B. Johnson administration set in motion social reforms designed to halt the spread of poverty in America as part of his “Great Society.” The War on Poverty focused on key contributing causes to poverty, one of which is education. The Higher Education Act of 1965 created the US Department of Education’s TRIO programs, helping historically disadvantaged and underrepresented youths have access to higher education. TRIO eventually expanded its services to include adult learners and non-traditional student populations including veterans.Â
Veterans Upward Bound was created in 1972 as a priority project to meet the academic needs of veterans returning from the Vietnam War. Today, 65 projects are in operation providing program services to nearly 8,500 veterans every year from every war era and peacetime era since the early 1950’s (Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, OIF-OEF, etc).
Veterans Upward Bound provides eligible veterans and active duty servicemembers the necessary help and tools to enter a program of post-secondary education. The program also provides veterans who do not have a high school diploma, an opportunity to prepare for the General Educational Development test (GED).
All veteran participants receive refresher training through a core curriculum of subjects that prepare them for college level course material. Participants are also informed of various support services on many college campuses. Upon successful completion of the VUB program, the veteran participants are not only familiar with services and resources available to them as students but more importantly they possess a renewed confidence in their academic abilities.
8,500
Veterans served each year
65
Projects in operation
86%
Of enrollees are first generation college students
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer Ross (Program Director) served in the United States Air Force as an Intelligence Specialist and retired in 2023. She spent the majority of her career providing strategic guidance and support to Department of Defense leadership in various roles around the globe. Since retirement, Jennifer has dedicated her time to support veteran organizations and nonprofits including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), American Corporate Partners (ACP), and serves as the Vice President of Strategy for The New York Brigade, a student veteran-focused nonprofit. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Studies from American Public University, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from UMass Global, and is currently enrolled at Cornell University, S.C. Johnson School of Business pursuing her MBA.
VUB
at Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.
In December of 2023 The Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) project hosted at The Catholic University of America was funded and the New Director hired. The program is committed to providing academic and supportive services to eligible veterans and active-duty military personnel in Washington, DC. Our mission is to empower and assist veterans in achieving their educational and career goals by offering personalized assistance, access to resources, and a supportive community that recognizes their unique challenges and contributions. Through our comprehensive program and continuous evaluation, we strive to promote academic success, retention, and graduation among our participants, and to contribute to their overall well-being and success beyond the classroom.
