The harm of ending Upward Bound

Dear Editor,

For more than 30 years, CSB has committed to college access by pursuing federal TRIO grants and hosting Upward Bound since 1995. Something about that commitment changed between September 2025 and January 2026. Many TRIO programs closed in September, when the Department of Education was over three weeks late in getting Grant Award Notices to their continuing programs. Unlike many institutions, CSB took the leap of faith to support staff salaries and programming during the gap, not knowing whether those investments would eventually be reimbursed. We’re thankful to confirm they have.

As we began our 31st year on campus, CSB revoked its historic financial support (4% of the total grant award). In December, the Upward Bound program filed a grievance with the College for effectively causing the program to withhold required services to at least 5 current participants. In early January, the College responded by announcing its intention to no longer pursue the continuation of the grant.

The rationale given to program staff include increasing financial constraints, enrollment pressures, uncertainty in federal funding, and alignment with True North Journey and similar priorities. Leadership has insufficiently explained how letting go of their only hands-on college-access program alleviates enrollment pressures. Federal funding is confirmed through a grant competition every 5 years, wherein 100% of program funds are awarded annually if the program’s objectives continue to be met. Furthermore, the program spends an average of $50,000 per year on campus, pays for its operating expenses via the grant, and CSB receives 8% of the grant award to use as it pleases.

In the end, it appears CSB might get what it wants. CSB will lose access to a national network of 800,000 motivated, supported pre-college youth. CSB will lose three professionals demonstrably versed in college skill-building, access, and retention. CSB will lose a partner for its Community Engaged Learning classes, Scholarship and Creativity Day projects, Carnegie classification, student employment, and student development. CSB will harm the lives of 64 youth. All the while, CSB will continue talking about living out the
Benedictine values of human dignity, stability, and preferential treatment for the poor and vulnerable.

Sincerely,
Alexandra Scheibelhut
Upward Bound Program Director