Project Upward Bound Graduate Assistantship

OAKLAND UNIVERSITY PROJECT UPWARD BOUND COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY

INTRODUCTION 

Project Upward Bound (PUB) is a federally funded college-preparatory program.  It provides intense academic, social, cultural, and career intervention with a mission of assuring high school graduation and college success for eligible students from low-income backgrounds who would be the first generation in their immediate families to earn a bachelor’s degree.  The PUB GA gets an opportunity to partner on projects with each of the members of the PUB Administrative Team.  Doing this provides the GA with a comprehensive exposure to both the planning and application/implementation of services and programming that positively impact student development.  Working with PUB is an opportunity to provide services designed to intentionally influence postsecondary success by affecting advanced preparedness and then to assess the efficacy of the outcomes. 

DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES 

1. Maintain a consistent positive PUB social media presence to keep Scholars engaged, encouraged, inspired, and informed (including taking and posting activity photos). 

2. Facilitate Scholar Success Plan Meetings w/Scholars & Parents (goal-setting, monitoring) 

3. Facilitate PUB’s new-admit onboarding component (PUB Flight 60)

4. Assist in planning and facilitating College/Career Day, OU Day at the Capitol, the statewide Student Leadership Summit, and various field trips 

5. Represent PUB at one or more target schools for National College Application Day 

6. Work with the PUB Team to facilitate College Seminar and/or Senior Seminar 7. Encourage retention by vigorously following up on Scholar absences from PUB services. 

8. Assist with assessment (SAT Practice) 

9. Observe/Help facilitate College Club at each high school served by PUB 

10. Contribute student-success/encouraging articles for publication in periodic newsletters 

DIRECT PARENT SERVICES 

1. Assist in organizing and facilitating student and/or parent community service projects. 

2. Research, develop, and deliver a series of 6 workshops to empower non-degreed parents to confidently support the higher education aspirations of their children. 

OPERATIONAL/INDIRECT STUDENT SUPPORT 

1. Assist with membership marketing, recruitment, and admission processes  

2. Assist with monitoring, documenting, and recording Scholar progress  

3. Attend select school programming, such as competitions, inductions, and graduations, to support PUB members 

4. Work to generate an OU PUB Alumni Network 

5. Develop agendas and schedule regular update meetings w/Project Director 

DIRECT RESEARCH 

• Research, design, coordinate/implement, and track Academic Year Peer Mentor outreach, including the Saturday Academy General Assembly and Closing sessions. 

• Research and secure updated information to keep PUB’s Resources web page current and relevant to PUB audiences with information that: 

                       A. assists high school graduates with all the information they                                  need to know about postsecondary entry and persistence                                  (including adult TRIO options) 

                       B. assists undergraduate PUB alumni to persist until degree                                    attainment 

                       C. assists postsecondary PUB alumni graduates with steps to                                enter and persist in graduate school                                                                  . D. provides resources for low-income parents who may also                                  not be degreed, particularly as related to supporting their                                  children’s educational aspirations 

• Conduct a retention study covering the first four years of the current grant cycle to identify average membership longevity and compile reasons for inactivity/leaving.  This information will then be used to determine whether there are ways in which the Project may improve retention by addressing the reasons for leaving. • Research, develop, and deliver a workshop on a relevant topic for the winter 2027 Student Leadership Summit sponsored by Michigan College Access Programs & Professionals (MI-CAPP) 

• Through the Senior Seminar class, work with graduating seniors to research, identify, and apply for attainable scholarships

 Dates:  Academic Year Only:  September 1, 2026 – April 28, 2027                       (Based on performance, interest, and availability, possibility of being retained as Head Resident in the 2027 Summer Academy) 

Hours:  Full Time – 20 Hours Per Week, including approximately 1 Saturday per month. 

Compensation:  $5,476.00 per semester stipend for two semesters, paid by PUB. 8 hours of tuition paid by the Division of Student Affairs. 

Supervision: Project Director 

Min. Req.: Enrollment in OU Graduate School.  A documented academic/career focus that is compatible with student development.  Excellent presentation development and delivery, and social media navigation and management skills.  

Applicants should have interpersonal skills that allow effective engagement with high-school-aged youth in a diverse, dynamic environment.  

Applicants: This GA position is best suited for OU students pursuing human services credentials.  The position provides a plethora of opportunities for students interested in observing, researching, and possibly impacting human action,  interaction, and social-emotional well-being.  The position will also provide enlightenment regarding accountability in a 100% grant-funded education operation as well.   

                                   SEND INQUIRIES TO:  PUB@oakland.edu   

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