After Shaheen-Hassan Letter, Education Department Releases Upward Bound Grants to UNH and Keene State College

**Upward Bound Programs at Keene State College and UNH serve approx. 200 Granite State students each year**

WASHINGTON –  The Department of Education has released grant funding for the Upward Bound programs at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Keene State College, less than one week after receiving a letter from U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) urging them to do so. The senators wrote to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos last Thursday citing the Department’s unprecedented delay in releasing five year grant funding for Upward Bound programs, which serve low-income and potential first-generation college students seeking a higher education. Keene State Upward Bound serves more than 90 students annually and UNH Upward Bound serves more than 110 students year-round. Both schools’ summer programs are scheduled to begin on June 1st, however, the future of the programs was in jeopardy without confirmed funding.

“I’m relieved that Secretary DeVos and the Department of Education heard our request and quickly released funds for these critical New Hampshire programs that help low-income and potential first-generation college students succeed in higher education,” said Senator Shaheen. “Each year, Upward Bound programs help hundreds of Granite State students get the tools they need to achieve their dreams of college and successful careers. The needless delay by the Department of Education left New Hampshire’s Upward Bound programs, their students and their staff, in the lurch for months. Now, just days before the beginning of their summer programs, we can confirm that UNH and Keene State’s Upward Bound programs can continue to work with New Hampshire students for the next five years.”

“I am pleased to see that the Trump Administration has heard our request and released the inexplicably delayed TRIO Upward Bound grant funding, ensuring that there will be no lapse in services on June 1,” said Senator Hassan. “Low-income and potential first generation college students in New Hampshire rely on this funding to help them succeed and I am happy to be able to join with Senator Shaheen to announce that UNH and Keene State will be able to continue with their planned programs. I will continue to strongly advocate for these initiatives moving forward.”

Through the grants announced today, Keene State and UNH will receive $434,413 and $492,216, respectively, through May 31, 2018. It’s expected that this grant will be continued for a total of 5 years.

###