Warriors in the Community is a radio segment featuring short and insightful interviews with key figures from Wayne State University about the many ways the university and its programs positively impact the metropolitan area and the lives of its residents. from Detroit.
Associate Professor Sandra M. Gonzales, Ed.D., joins us for our eighth episode to discuss the College of Education’s revered Upward Bound Program, a federally funded initiative hosted by Wayne State University that provides instruction , tutoring, academic and career guidance, counseling, and residential life to high school students recruited in grades 9, 10, and 11. These students are potential first-generation college-bound students attending designated Detroit Community District Public Schools. Upward Bound targets students who would like to go to college but may have difficulty attending due to academic need, lack of financial aid, or inadequate preparation for high school.
Transcription
Introduction: This is “Warriors in the Community” brought to you by Wayne State University, and now to find out how Wayne State is positively impacting our community, here’s Darrell Dawsey.
Darrell Dawsey: Today I’m with Sandra Gonzales, Associate Professor of Bilingual Bicultural Education and Faculty Director of the Upward Bound Program at the Wayne State University College of Education.
Tell us a bit about how the College of Education’s Upward Bound program works, and tell us about the main components of that program.
Sandra Gonzalez: Our Wayne State program is actually home to two Upward Bound programs. So, there is one in the Faculty of Education, and then we also have a TRIO Federal Programs Office where the other one is.
Our Upward Bound program and College of Education originated in 2017, are funded by the US Department of Education, and serve about 60 students. We have a six week summer program. We travel a lot with our students. We conduct tours of college campuses. It is truly a phenomenal opportunity.
Darrell Dawsey: Tell me a little about how a student becomes eligible.
Sandra Gonzalez: Our program serves two high schools in Southwest Detroit, Western International High School and Cesar Chavez Academy High School. Upward Bound is something unique; It’s not your traditional after-school program because students who enroll in our program actually make an eight to 10-year commitment.
So, we recruit them when they enter high school, as ninth graders, and then we have them until the first day they receive their college degree.
Darrell Dawsey: Why do you think this relationship endures?
Sandra Gonzalez: Well, I mean, I think on the one hand, Upward Bound works. It’s a very successful program, and I think part of that is getting the opportunity to have this long lasting relationship with the youth and families that we work with.
And that’s, I think, a lot of what Upward Bound is about. It’s about nurturing young people where they are and helping them get where they want to go.
Darrell Dawsey: Sandra González, thank you for joining us today.
Sandra Gonzalez: Thanks for having me.
additional: This has been “Warriors in the Community”. For more Wayne State news, visit us online at today.wayne.edu/wwj and join us here next Monday at the same time to learn about more warriors in the community.
