University of Virginia Library

1967 Report Outlined

Pilot Project Details Clarified

this proposed program would all go
to the University, while the students
in Upward Bound are free to
go wherever they choose.

The program would be carried
out in the following manner: "all
students accepted into the program
would be brought to the University
for an eight-week summer session
prior to the first year. Many of
these students would have participated
in "Upward Bound" for at
least one previous summer, so that
they would be thoroughly screened
and exposed to a college atmosphere
well before entering the
program."

The prospectus continued to say
that "as prospective first-year men,
the students would be treated as
regular summer school students.
Thus the program would not have
to rent classroom space, although it
would pay health and athletic and
library fees and student fees for
board and room."

In order to avoid charging
tuition for each student, the proposed
program budgeted teaching
salaries for the particular courses to
be taught in the summer program,
making the program in effect, free
to all participating students.

The curriculum during the
summer program would consist of
three courses: English, Math Review,
and tutorial in a foreign
language. These would be conducted
daily, five days a week, in
the mornings.

When these "culturally-deprived"
students finished the
summer session, they would then
enter their first-year at the University.
Their curriculum would be
substantially the same as that of
ordinary first-year men, with the
sole exception of an English Reading
Comprehension course in their
first semester.

The director, Mr. Elwood,
would remain in charge of these
students, making sure that they
adjusted properly and taking care
of all details. Senior undergraduates
would also be sought out by the
Director to aid the program in the
capacity of student advisors to the
students in the program.

"These student advisors, scattered
in the dormitories or in other
living arrangements according to
their own preferences, would provide
friendly assistance in study
habits as well as extracurricular
matters," the proposal added.

After the crucial first year, these
students will be expected to have
adjusted to the University on an equal level. "If they cannot begin
to compete on a more or less equal
basis after a summer plus a year,
then the assumptions underlying
the program are open to question,"
the report said.