Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a federally-funded grant program housed on the Springfield campus at Ozarks Technical Community College. Veterans Upward Bound serves the veteran community by providing an opportunity for personal and professional growth empowering veterans with the tools to successfully enroll and complete post-secondary education or training.
The Veterans Upward Bound expanded its service area to a fifteen-county service area in September 2022. Veterans interested in school with a residence in these counties are invited to apply for the program.
VUB Service Area
Veterans Upward Bound serves veterans in the following counties in Southwest Missouri: Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Laclede, Lawrence, Ozark, Polk, Pulaski, Stone, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright.
We assist veterans in the following areas:
Admissions and Enrollment
Veterans Upward Bound is committed to helping veterans find a college that fits their needs and goals. While VUB operates out of OTC, we help veterans go to any school of their choice. We offer campus visits, advising, assistance with application and transcript fees, career and program exploration, and more!
Paying for College
Understanding how to pay for college is an overwhelming task. Staff at Veterans Upward Bound will walk veterans through any educational benefits that may be available to them and help them maximize their benefits in a way that meets their educational and financial goals. Additionally, staff can assist veterans with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and helping them find and apply for scholarships. Workshops and self-paced modules on financial literacy topics are also available to VUB participants. Because every veteran’s situation is different, we highly encourage veterans to meet with staff before applying for benefits to understand and maximize each benefit.
Academics
Veterans Upward Bound strives to not only help veterans enroll in school but be successful once they are there. VUB offers refresher courses in math and English so participants can brush up on their skills before their return to the classroom. VUB also can assist with computer basic and keyboarding and science. Participants also have access to learn a language of their choice with foreign language software. Workshops are also offered on topics like study skills, note taking, how to read a textbook, and more. Participants are welcome to spend time in the academic lab that has computers and free printing. Click here for more information on our academic offerings and services.
Sense of Belonging + Social Opportunities
Veterans Upward Bound works to create an inclusive environment for all of our veterans. VUB hosts events and opportunities for participants to connect and build camaraderie with veterans in the program, on campus, and across the community. VUB offers various cultural and educational events through the year. These events are open to current VUB participants. If you are not a current participant but interested in attending one of these events, reach out to staff to inquire about your involvement. Click here for a list of our upcoming participant events.
