Programs

• What are TRIO Programs?
• What do TRIO Programs Provide?
• Evidence of Achievement
• TRIO Resources

The TRIO Programs are designed to identify promising students (Talent Search), prepare them to do college level work (Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science), provide information on academic and financial aid opportunities to adults (Educational Opportunity Centers), provide tutoring and support services to students once they reach campus (Student Support Services), and support and encourage talented students to pursue Ph.D.'s (Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program).  As mandated by Congress, over two-thirds of the students must come from families with incomes under $24,000 (family of four) where neither parent graduated from college.  Students enrolled in today's TRIO Programs mirror our nation's multi-cultural and multiethnic society.  Thirty-nine percent of TRIO students are White, 36% are African-American, 16% are Hispanic, 5% are Native American, and 4% are Asian-American.  Sixteen thousand TRIO students are disabled. There are more than 25,000 U.S. veterans currently enrolled in the TRIO Programs.  TRIO college graduates are working in business, industry, government, medicine, law, education, communications, sales, finance, politics, transportation, publishing, law enforcement, computer science & technology, engineering, and accounting. TRIO Programs have documented evidence of achievement.

• STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES (called Educational Supportive Services at K-State):  helps students to stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degree.  Participants, who include disabled college students, receive tutoring, counseling, a nd remedial instruction.  Students are now being served at more that 808 colleges and universities nationwide.
• RONALD E. MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT: programs encourage low-income and minority undergraduates to consider careers in college teaching as well as prepare for doctoral study.  Named in honor of an astronaut who died in the 1986 space-shuttle explosion, students who participate in this program are provided with research opportunities and faculty mentors.
• UPWARD BOUND: helps students prepare for higher education.  Participants receive instruction in literature, composition, foreign language, mathematics, and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays, and during the summer.  Currently 681 programs are in operation throughout the United States.
• TALENT SEARCH: programs serve young people in grades six through twelve.  In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admission requirements, scholarships, and various student financial aid programs.  This early intervention program helps young people to better understand their educational opportunities and options.  Over 302,000 Americans are enrolled in 319 TRIO Talent Search programs.
• EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS: Located throughout the country, they primarily serve displaced or underemployed workers.  These Centers help people to choose a college and a suitable financial aid program. There are over 74 Educational Opportunity Centers in America, serving 158,000 individuals.

In many communities, the TRIO Programs are the only programs that help students to overcome class, social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education.  The educational and human services offered through TRIO Programs are distinguishable from all other counseling programs in America because they are:

• One-On-One:  As most TRIO Programs serve fewer than 250 students, TRIO counselors have an opportunity to work one-on-one with each student.  Unlike traditional counseling programs, TRIO professionals get to know each student on a first-name basis.  TRIO staff are personally committed to the success of their students.
• Performance-Based:  Each TRIO Program operates against specific, measurable outcome objectives as clearly defined in each approved grant proposal.  TRIO Program Directors are held accountable and must meet their stated objectives each year if they expect to remain funded and able to help participants in their targeted service area.
• Focused on Early Intervention:  Two of the TRIO Programs, Talent Search and Upward Bound, are early intervention programs.  These programs effectively reach students in grades six through 12 who have "college Potential" but often do not recognize or understand their academic and career options beyond high school.  Each year, these two programs keep thousands of promising young low-income and minority students in school and focused on career and college success.
• Designed for First-Generation and Low-Income:  Two-thirds of the students in the TRIO Programs come from families with incomes under $24,000 (family of four), where neither parent graduated from college.  In most cases, parents have no higher education experience, do not understand the post secondary process and do not necessarily value a higher education.
• Built on Relationships:  Over a a period of several months or years, TRIO Professionals build both personal and professional relationships with their students.  Such positive relationships are critical to the success of every TRIO Program.  The staff of each TRIO Program creates a climate of support for students as they strive to move out of poverty and dependence.  As a result of these strong positive relationships, many TRIO college graduates periodically return to their programs to encourage and inspire current students.
• Consistent and Intense:  TRIO Programs and TRIO Professionals are consistently available to their students.  In fact, some TRIO Programs enable students to meet with counselors during the summer, in the evening or on weekends.  Many TRIO Professionals, as part of their specified program objectives, visit students at home to discuss courses or career plans.
• Comprehensive & Cultural:  The academic and human services as administered through the TRIO Programs are comprehensive and must go far beyond the traditional services offered by high school or college counselors.  Many students in the TRIO Programs receive instruction in literature, composition, foreign languages, mathematics and science.  In addition, students receive assistance in completing college admission and financial aid applications, tutorial services and exposure to cultural events.
• Reality Based:  Like their students, many TRIO Professionals had to overcome class, social, academic and cultural barriers to succeed in higher education.  As a result, they can effectively relate to their students and know how to motivate young people and adults in spite of the obstacles that often serve to discourage students from low-income families.
• Community Based:  Community need is determined by the community, not the federal government.  TRIO Programs are funded based on clear evidence that the program is needed in a particular community or town.  Criteria used in determining need in a specific area include income level, education attainment level, dropout rates, student-to-counselor ratio, social and economic conditions, and overall demographic data.
• Non-Bureaucratic:  TRIO Programs do not involve a large federal bureaucracy because they are direct grant programs funded in rank order on the basis of competitive proposals.  In fact, there is no more than one federal employee for every 28,000 TRIO students now being served.  In addition, TRIO Programs only exist where local organizations see the need for such services and have successfully applied for federal support.  Despite substantial increases in the number of TRIO students and programs, fever federal employees are working with TRIO today than 20 years ago.

The authorizing legislation for TRIO Programs mandates on-going evaluation, both to test the effectiveness of the programs and to provide concrete methods to improve effectiveness.  Consistent with this mandate, two on-going evaluations are being conducted of the two largest TRIO Programs:  Student Support Services (college program) and Upward Bound (pre-collegiate).

An evaluation of Student Support Services followed 2,900 SSS students through their third year of college.  It found that these TRIO students had a 22% greater chance of entering their third year of college than similar students without benefit of TRIO.

The WESTAT study reinforced findings of an earlier study of this same program:  more services bring greater success.  That earlier study found that students who had the full range of TRIO services available at the college level (counseling, special courses, tutoring) were twice as likely to be retained.

In the early 1980's, a Research Triangle Study of Upward Bound found that Upward Bound students were four times as likely to graduate from college as their peers who did not attend this program.

The Department of Education began a second major study of Upward Bound in 1992, following 1,481 students who were randomly assigned to the program.  While the first report of the study only tracks most students through their junior year of high school, the study demonstrates the academic strength of Upward Bound.  Students typically have 63 contacts with the program over the course of a year--usually tutoring sessions or classes to supplement their regular high school course work.  In addition, students take at least one additional academic course in high school.  Students and their parents report the maintenance of very high aspiration levels, at a time when young people's educational expectations are expected to decline.  A second report on the outcomes of this study is expected when students enter college.

Other studies document the impact of even shorter term interventions.  In the 1980's, for example, the House Budget Committee reported that over 20% of Black and Hispanic college freshmen had received services from a TRIO Talent Search Program of Educational Opportunity Center.