Shields, Patricia M.Paiz, Lisa2017-08-212017-08-212017-08Paiz, L. (2017). Upward bound professionals perspectives on best practices related to retaining student participants throughout the program. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/6755An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Summer 2017.Research Purpose: The purpose of this research is to design and execute a study that describes the perspectives of current Upward Bound professionals over links between best practices and Upward Bound student retention. Methods: This descriptive study employed a survey of current Upward Bound professionals within the state of Texas. The survey questions were designed by operationalizing the conceptual framework found within scholarly literature. Results: The results of the survey show; Upward Bound professionals most commonly agree with the activities and programming associated with academic support and social influences. Mixed results were found within the structural effect questions. More specifically, questions associated with accountability received the highest number of respondents to answer there would be no effect or decrease likelihood of student retention. Full Disclosure: Given the researchers experience as a TRIO alumni and previous employment with an Upward Bound program, there is the possibility that the results and overall tone of this research to be biased.Text52 pages1 file (.pdf)enupward boundTRIOretaining participantsFederal Education GrantHigher Education Act of 1965Public AdministrationUpward Bound Professionals Perspectives on Best Practices Related to Retaining Student Participants Throughout the ProgramApplied Research Project