Bell TowerOctober 16, 2024

Preparing to Enter College on the Best Footing

At the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, leaders know that first-generation college students, especially those who face economic hardship, must prepare for college long before they are eligible for Cub Camp. So the university offers an array of opportunities that help pre-college students start their journey at no financial cost to themselves.

Upward Bound

The future of student success begins as early as 9th grade. At UAFS, the Upward Bound Classic and Upward Bound Math/Science programs work with high school students with financial need who would become the first in their families to attend college. This federal TRIO Program began in the 1960s to help students progress from high school to college and beyond to break the cycle of poverty.

“We help students be as successful in high school as they can be so that post-secondary education leads to jobs,” said Christin Staats, executive director of Upward Bound Programs at UAFS.

Staats and her team set objectives that “are both ambitious and attainable” for their students each year as part of their Annual Performance Report to the U.S. Department of Education to prove that both programs are doing the job. Upward Bound Classic and Upward Bound Math/Science have repeatedly achieved their benchmarks and exceeded expectations.

After the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 100 high schoolers, grades 9-12, continued school during the 2023-2024 school year at the next grade level or graduated with their diploma. Almost every student maintained a GPA of 2.5 or better; more than half enrolled in college or were accepted; and over two-thirds of the Upward Bound Math/Science students scored proficient or better on state assessments in reading, language arts, and math.

Summer Academy

Some high school students attend the five-week Summer Academy at UAFS, where they build skills to prepare them for the classroom in the fall. During these few weeks, students live on the UAFS campus and take courses taught by professors designed to introduce concepts they will see during the next academic year.

WATC

UAFS also offers two concurrent programs, the Western Arkansas Technical Center and Smart Start, allowing high school juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit. Some will complete high school with a diploma and a certificate of proficiency or associate degree. Others will have college credits to start their programs.

“It’s an opportunity for the student to gain credit without having to pay out of pocket,” said Amanda Seidenzahl, director of early college programs. “It’s really a scholarship back to that student if they look at it from that perspective.”

While the programs are similar – allowing students to earn university credit before officially attending college – there are slight differences between WATC and Smart Start. But the ultimate goal is to get students prepared for whatever comes next.

Those enrolled in WATC can learn what it takes to become welders, nurses, or advanced industry professionals in robotics, computer-integrated machining, electrical technology, or network engineering. Many go straight into careers, while others use WATC to save money before pursuing a degree.

Through Smart Start, students complete general education courses like Composition I and II, U.S. History, and college algebra. All classes are taught by UAFS faculty and can be attended online or in person throughout a traditional semester.

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