
Veterans Upward Bound
A free educational resource for Military Veterans of Central Kentucky
Veterans Upward Bound
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a federally funded TRIO program by the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to prepare and support military veterans in developing the academic and personal skills needed for success in post-secondary education. The program aims to increase the number of veterans who enroll in and complete college programs. All services—including instruction, books, and other resources—are provided completely FREE OF CHARGE to eligible participants. You do NOT have to plan to ATTEND WKU in order to take advantage of VUB's services.
"VUB took some of the anxiousness and stress of returning to school out of the equation...
If you are a veteran looking to further your education or requisite skills, VUB is
100% for you."
Students seeking to benefit from our FREE educational services must first meet a few simple eligibility requirements:
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All VUB participants must have better than a dishonorable discharge, as well as one of the following:
- a) have at least 180 days of active service;
- b) be a member of a reserve component called to active duty for more than 30 days; or
- c) have served active duty but was discharged/released due to a service-connected disability.
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All VUB participants must be either low-income (based on federal income charts), potential first generation college students (neither parent earned a baccalaureate degree), or at high risk of academic failure (either low test scores, have a disability, or have been out of school for over 5 years). In addition, two-thirds (66.6%) of the participants must be BOTH low-income AND potential first generation college students.
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All participants must demonstrate academic potential and yet have academic need.
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All Participants must live within our service area, which covers eight (8) counties surrounding Bowling Green, Kentucky. To be eligible for our free services, veterans must be residents of the following Kentucky counties: Allen, Barren, Breckenridge, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hart, Hardin, Logan, Meade, Simpson, or Warren.
***Please note: We cannot provide services to those students who are already enrolled in college or tech school, so make sure to reach out to us before you enroll.
Before applying, be sure to reach out to us—it's an important first step!
Click the link or scan the QR code to begin the participant application:
VUB Participant Application
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is a FREE federal TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that helps U.S. military veterans prepare for and succeed in post-secondary education. Serving veterans from an eight-county region around Bowling Green, VUB provides FREE academic support, instruction, and materials to those who qualify.
The VUB program is located on WKU's campus in Jones-Jaggers Hall room 127, with its own dedicated classroom & computer lab next door.
You can park in one of the "Jones-Jaggers Hall Visitor Parking" spots around Jones-Jaggers Hall. If you cannot find a visitor spot open, park in the 10-minute spot in front of the building, then ask a VUB staff member for a temporary parking permit. Put the permit on the dash of your car and park in any of the lots next to Jones-Jaggers Hall, and after your visit, please return the parking pass to our office.
No. Our regulations prohibit us from serving any student who is already enrolled at a post-secondary school.
Participants of VUB can take advantage of a variety of academic and career counseling services, including:
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Post-secondary School Entry Advising
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VUB staff will help you with all the paperwork involved with enrolling in school, including filling out applications and requesting past transcripts. In most instances, we'll even pay any application fees.
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Academic Advising
- Our staff can advise students about what classes might be good to take during their first semester in post-secondary school. Appropriate majors can also be discussed, as well as academic requirements which might be involved to earn a degree in a chosen major.
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Financial Aid Advising
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Our counselor can provide assistance with applying for VA educational benefits, financial aid, and scholarships. However, VUB does not provide any direct financial assistance to our participants.
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Career Advising
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Our counselor can provide you with career advising, as well as choosing a school which will best fit with your goals.
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While VUB does not provide personal or mental health service directly, we are committed to connecting our participants with trusted community resources to ensure they receive the support they need.
Participants of VUB can take advantage of a variety of academic services, including refresher classes and online tutoring:
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Refresher Classes
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VUB offers free academic refresher classes that are individually designed by the counselor and instructors to best help each student refresh the basic academic skills. Our teachers work with students in numerous subject areas, including language arts, mathematics, science, foreign language, and academic computer skills. Classes are conveniently located next door to our office in a classroom with a dedicated computer lab. Students and alumni can use the computer lab outside of class by making an appointment with the instructors.
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Online Tutoring
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VUB offers free access to several online tutorial programs, depending on the subject with which you need tutoring. Our online tutorials can be used anywhere out students have web access. Students who cannot attend our refresher classes in-person can still work on their academic skills through these tutorials. Speak to our counselor to see if online tutoring will work for you.
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Veterans Upward Bound Scholarship Opportunities
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) collaborates with several local Veteran organizations to offer scholarship opportunities to program participants who have successfully completed VUB services and are pursuing—or planning to pursue—a degree at any accredited post-secondary institution.
Scholarships are awarded during the summer and are intended for use in the upcoming fall semester. Recipients will be required to provide verification of enrollment and attendance in the fall term prior to the disbursement of scholarship funds.
This initiative reflects our shared commitment to supporting veterans as they transition into and succeed in higher education.
Please download the information guide and scholarship essay rubric below and complete the online application.
2025 Scholarship Instruction Letter and 2025 Scholarship Essay Rubric
VUB at WKU's Scholarship application can be found at the following link:
VUB Scholarship Application for 2025
The 2025 scholarship is due Friday, August 8, 2025.
Completed applications should be either delivered to the VUB office or else sent as an attachment through email. When submitting by email, please send directly to shannon.taylor@wku.edu or marc.hamilton@wku.edu.

Support a Deserving Veteran’s Educational Journey
Due to federal regulations, Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is unable to use its Department of Education grant funds to provide scholarships. To address this, we have established an external scholarship fund supported entirely by generous contributions from individuals and organizations who share our commitment to helping veterans pursue higher education.
We warmly welcome donations to the Veterans Upward Bound Scholarship Fund. Contributions are deposited into a dedicated interest-bearing account. As the fund grows, we are able to provide financial assistance to more veterans—and in greater amounts—to help cover essential educational expenses.
These scholarships directly benefit veterans enrolled in post-secondary institutions. Eligibility is not limited by school choice; any veteran participating in the VUB program may apply for assistance.
All donations of $5.00 or more are gratefully accepted. We are happy to provide written acknowledgment of your gift for your tax records, upon request.
To contribute by mail:
Make checks payable to:
Veterans Upward Bound Scholarship Fund
Mail to:
Veterans Upward Bound
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd #11098
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1098
To donate online:
Please use the link below and be sure to designate your gift specifically for Veterans Upward Bound.
Donation Link
In person:
Jones-Jaggers Hall, Room 127
WKU's Main Campus
8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
610 College Street Road
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701
By phone or fax:
Phone: (270) 745-6876 (Bowling Green)
(270) 706-8463 (Elizabethtown)
Fax: (270) 745-5987
By email:
By US mail:
Veterans Upward Bound
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Dept. 11098
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1098
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