BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University’s Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP) recently received a $40,000 grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The ICAP program was established to foster post-secondary attendance and retention by providing outreach services to historically underserved students in grades 6-12 and historically underrepresented college students.

Bemidji State’s ICAP project will annually serve 90 participants in grades 9-12 from five rural counties in northwest Minnesota. Each participant will be at risk for non-matriculation in a post-secondary educational setting and will be low-income and/or first-generation college. Additionally, given the target population, a significant number of participants will also be minorities.

The project will have ongoing interventions during the academic year and a six-week residential summer component.

Throughout the school year participants will receive tutoring, academic advising, mentoring, college visits and back-to-campus workshops. Workshop topics will include career exploration, study skills, review for the Minnesota Comprehensive test, service learning, financial aid and all-day ACT preparation. The summer component will focus on supplemental academic instruction in math, literature and composition, science and foreign languages.

In addition, elective courses, ACT preparation, cultural activities and college visits will be offered to all participants.

“By getting this grant, what we were able to do is increase some of the services we’re offering to students,” Kelli Steggall, assistant director and project director for BSU’s TRIO and Upward Bound programs, said. “We’re able to offer more college visits to different campuses around Minnesota, and we’re able to allow more students to go on those trips.

“With Upward Bound being flat-funded, it’s definitely allowing us to do more for the students,” she added. “From tutoring to mentoring to test preparation, this grant will help us expand on everything we’re able to offer.”

ICAP funds in conjunction with funds from BSU’s Upward Bound program will cover salaries for an assistant director and two residential assistants, travel, books and course material, room and board, travel for program participants, advising materials, mentoring, residence hall supplies, Back to Campus workshops and college visits.

For additional information, please contact Upward Bound at (218) 755-2092.