TRIO Programs

The federal TRIO programs are outreach and student services designed to provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes seven student-centered programs to help low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress academically from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. These seven programs include (1) Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC), (2) Talent Search (TS), (3) Upward Bound (UB), (4) Upward Bound Math/Science, (5) Veterans Upward Bound (VUB), (6) Student Support Services (SSS), and (7) Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement. Aside from these student programs, TRIO also offers staff training program designed to help personnel improve the operation and success of TRIO projects. TRIO is not an acronym; rather, it was given its name because it started as a group of only three programs. In fiscal year 2012, TRIO programs allocated a total of $838,629,436 to fund 2,815 projects serving 789,676 participants. Federal TRIO program legislative requirements can be found in the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2.

TRIO has a progressive History. Over the years, TRIO programs have been expanded and improved to provide a wider range of services to reach more students in need. TRIO started with the UB program, which emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administration's war on poverty. UB provides college entrance preparation support to high school students from either low-income families or families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. All UB projects must provide instruction in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign language. UB seeks to increase rates of secondary education completion, postsecondary education enrollment, and postsecondary graduation.

In 1965 the second TRIO outreach program, TS, was created as part of the Higher Education Act. TS identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. It provides academic, career, and financial counseling and encourages participants to graduate from high school and continue with postsecondary education. TS publicizes the availability of financial aid and helps individuals with the postsecondary application process. TS also encourages persons who have not completed secondary or postsecondary education programs to enter (or reenter) and complete postsecondary education. TS seeks to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete postsecondary education.

In 1968, SSS, which was originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was authorized By the Higher Education Amendments and became the third in a series of educational opportunity programs. By the late 1960s, the term TRIO was coined to describe this group of federal programs. Through a competitive grant process, SSS funds are awarded to institutions of higher education to [Page 1309]provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and motivate students to complete postsecondary education. The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 amended the SSS program to permit the use of program funds for grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving federal Pell Grants. SSS seeks to increase college retention and graduation rates. Requirements for SSS grant aid can be found in Public Law 106–554.

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