John Jay College Of Criminal Justice | The City University of New York

Upward Bound is one of the Federal TRIO Programs. These programs are educational outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes five distinct outreach programs targeted to serve and assist students to progress from high school to post-baccalaureate programs. 

Upward Bound, the oldest of a series of programs known as TRIO programs, was created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty".  Specific legislation for the program was initially authorized under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and later moved to be included under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.  While much of President Johnson's "War on Poverty" and the "Great Society" initiatives dealt with the problems of jobs and housing, this legislation which authorized the TRIO programs sought to provide educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.