TRiO upward boundTRIO High School Upward Bound at Metropolitan State University of Denver is seeking proposals from faculty and staff members as well as external community providers to design and develop classes to teach Denver Public Schools high school students this summer.  

Classes will host around 25 students each and take place from June 20-July 28 with a presentation day July 29. The deadline for proposal submissions is May 12, and instructors will be notified by May 19.

Proposed classes

Proposed classes must connect to at least one of the following content areas:  

  • Math 
  • Literature 
  • Lab Science 
  • Foreign Language 
  • Robotics/Engineering 
  • Civics/Social Responsibility 
  • Financial Literacy 
  • Art (including music and theater) 

Approaches to teaching that are creative and hands-on and include culturally responsive content and instruction are highly valued. Priority will be given to sessions that enhance critical-thinking skills regarding local, national or global issues and include a variety of learning styles that are student-centered. 

There are two options for instructors: 

Option 1:  

Instructors will teach two sections of the course they are proposing: one section differentiated for incoming ninth- and 10th-graders and a second section for incoming 11th– and 12th-graders. These classes are scheduled to be taught two days per week (your class is taught twice per day) for five weeks.  

  • Salary Supplement/Fee-for-Service of up to $4,000 for summer instruction (includes time allotted for program development, lesson planning, attending staff orientation prior to the start of the camp and participating in the Sharing Day Closing Celebration). Nonparticipation in the final Sharing Day will be deducted from pay. 

Option 2:  

Instructors will teach one class of the course they are proposing two days per week. This class should be appropriate for ninth- through 12th-graders. This class will be taught once per day, two days per week. 

  • Faculty/Instructor Support for Option 2: Salary Supplement/Fee-for-Service of up to $2,000 for summer instruction. Nonparticipation in the final Sharing Day will be deducted from pay. 

In addition to salary stipends, instructors may request up to $500 per class for books, materials and supplies. Materials budgets are reviewed and approved by Upward Bound staff and based on the length and type of activities proposed. Upward Bound will also hire MSU Denver students to serve as mentors to assist with the campers and the summer-program instruction. 

Application process 

Please contact Janelle Henderson, director of the Center of Urban Education and TRIO Upward Bound, to apply and to ask any questions about the program. 

Within your application, please include the following information:  

  • Class title  
  • Class instructor(s), title, department  
  • Class focus (e.g., Lab Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Service Learning, English, Foreign Language)  
  • Class summary description   
  • Class goals and expected outcomes   
  • A description of how you plan to grade and assess individual student learning outcomes  
  • Classroom space requirements (describe anticipated space needs, such as: computer lab, outdoor space, art studio, etc.)  
  • Estimated materials and costs (outline anticipated materials, including books, supplies, equipment and estimated costs)   
  • Availability: Please provide your preferred days and times for instruction — either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday and morning versus afternoon. TRIO will endeavor to accommodate your requests but cannot guarantee your preference.   
  • Contact information (email and phone)  
  • If you are an external provider, please provide a copy of your résumé or short bio of your relevant experience for this position. 

More about TRIO Upward Bound 

Upward Bound is a federally funded college-preparatory program dedicated to the academic success of high school students from underresourced backgrounds. The Upward Bound Summer Program is aimed at strengthening student educational interest that will lead to a successful vision and plan for high school success and college access. The purpose of the summer program is to expose students to college-level classes that enhance their problem-solving, critical thinking and collaborative skills through innovative and creative curriculum.