In the late 1960s, the term TRIO was coined to describe three federal outreach programs developed as part of President Lyndon B. Johnsons' War on Poverty. In support of its commitment to provide educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance, Congress established the Higher Education Act, from which a series of programs were created. Upward Bound was the first emerging from the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The second TRIO outreach program, Talent Search, was created in 1965 as part of the Higher Education Act. In 1968, Student Support Services, which was originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments and became the third in this series of educational opportunity programs. Over 1,000 colleges, universities, community colleges, and agencies now offer TRIO Programs in America. The Rutgers Upward Bound (RUB) Program is currently in its 47th year of operation on the Rutgers University New Brunswick Campus. It is one of four TRiO Programs on the Rutgers University—New Brunswick campus. Rutgers Upward Bound is a pre-college program designed to assist and motivate students to successfully graduate from high school, prepare for college admission, and to successfully complete their baccalaureate degree. Upward Bound is a year round project that offers academic year workshops such as SAT and HSPA preparation, cultural activities, college tours, college planning as well as a host of other programs. Upward Bound also offers a mandatory summer institute on campus to prepare students to prepare students for college life.

The Rutgers Upward Bound (RUB) Program is currently in its 46th year of operation on the Rutgers University Piscataway campus. It is a unit under Undergraduate Education in the division of Instructional Support. Rutgers Upward Bound (RUB) is a pre-college program designed to assist and motivate participants to successfully graduate from high school, prepare for college admission, and to successfully complete their baccalaureate degree. Upward Bound is a year-round project that offers academic year workshops such as SAT & HSPA preparation, cultural activities, college tours, college planning as well as a host of other programs. Upward Bound also offers a mandatory summer institute on campus to prepare participants for college life.

Rutgers Upward Bound students will be assigned an advisor that assists the participant in the following areas: •Academic preparation •College preparation and planning •Financial aid counseling •Personal counseling In addition, each advisor is expected to: •Serve as a student advocate and mentor •Establish relationships with high school guidance faculty, staff and administration •Serve as an aid for parents, guardians, and students in the program