Skip to Content
For Veterans, By Veterans.

Veterans Upward Bound

The Veterans Upward Bound Program is funded through the United States Department of Education as a part of the TRIO grant programs. The mission of the Veterans Upward Bound Program is to assist eligible veterans to become successful in their educational and career goals.

Program Motto

Serving Those Who So Proudly Served For Us!

Our Locations

In addition to offering services at Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, and Wytheville Community College, the program provides outreach services to other communities within the Commonwealth of Virginia on an “as-needed” basis. Current outreach services are being designed to address the needs of veterans in the Roanoke and New River Valley area.

Participation in Veterans Upward Bound does not obligate veterans to attend college at one of our partner institutions. The program is designed to assist veterans to pursue post secondary education programs at the college or university of their choice.

Our Services

  • Enrollment Assistance – assistance with college selection and applications, VPT testing prep, and transfer assistance
  • Academic Advising – guidance on program availability and course selections
  • Financial Aid Information/Assistance – assistance with the FAFSA application and scholarship applications
  • College Preparation Courses – refresher courses are available including grammar, basic math through pre-calculus, Science, and Foreign Language
  • Career Planning – career counseling, interest inventories, and job availability
  • Tutorial Services
  • Workshops – personal and academic workshops are available on an individual basis including test-taking skills, study skills, note-taking, time management, resume preparation, and determining what type of learning you are.
  • Agency Referrals

Who is Eligible?

  • Any Veteran who has served 181 days of active duty, and
  • Received a discharge other than dishonorable, and
  • Is first generation college student or
  • Meets low income eligibility guidelines
  • Member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation on or before September 11, 2001, and have a high risk for academic failure.

If you are uncertain of your eligibility, contact us for assistance.

What is the Cost? Free.

All of our services are free to veterans who meet the eligibility requirements.

Application Form

Complete and submit the VUB-Application-form

  1. Make sure you have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer.
  2. Open the VUB Application form by clicking on the link. Fill in the information.
  3. Save the form to your computer.
  4. Send it as an email with the form attached to Help_for_Vets@sw.edu. Subject line: VUB Application.

You may also print & mail to the address below or Fax to 276-964-7514.

Veterans Upward Bound
Southwest Virginia Community College
P.O. Box 1101
Richlands, VA 24641

Contact Us

Help_for_Vets@sw.edu

276-964-7557

SWCC – Buchanan Hall, Room 140
Phone: 276-964-7363

Fax # (for applications):
276-964-7514

P.O. Box 1101
Richlands, VA. 24641

Back to top

Southwest Virginia Community College will be closing all locations at 2:30 PM, on Tue, Nov 19. Remaining day & night classes are cancelled.