TRIO is a set of federally-funded educational opportunity outreach programs that motivate and support students from low-income backgrounds – including military veterans and students with disabilities to access and graduate from college and universities.
Saint Paul, MN – Metro State University currently houses six TRIO programs to enhance college access and college success for students first in their families to graduate with a baccalaureate degree (first-generation college students), students coming from limited-income backgrounds, veterans, and students with disabilities. A congressional resolution designated the fourth Saturday in February as "National TRIO Day" to commemorate the achievements of the Federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.
The federal TRIO program grants Metro State University over $1.7 million to provide college access to selected eligible high school students in the three TRIO-Upward Bound (UB) and TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science (UBMS) programs to improve the likelihood of high school students attending and being successful in college. In addition, three TRIO-Student Support Services (SSS) programs – specifically for first-general college students, students receiving federal Pell Grants, students with disabilities, and those students underrepresented in the STEM areas are provided enhanced advising, mentoring, tutoring, professional, leadership, and cultural opportunities to ensure retention and graduation from the university.
As part of the National TRIO Day, Metro State recognizes the challenges facing individuals and families underrepresented in higher education. We also celebrate the successes of each student’s academic, personal, and professional journeys. For students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, federally funded TRIO programs are making a world of difference.
TRIO pre-college programs at Metro State have assisted hundreds of high school students to enter college and universities. More importantly, students are being prepared academically and socially with the ability to navigate college successfully.
“Our goal for every TRIO UB student is to instill in them the necessary skills for learning and studying, developing their leadership skills to gain confidence, preparing them for college, and ultimately having them matriculate to college with zero to little debt,” say PaYong Xiong, director of TRIO Upward Bound programs.
“We have been doing it since 2007 when our first TRIO UB grant was awarded, and we are so proud to expand the program to three UB grants to serve more young people in our communities.”
In a recent performance report, TRIO students at Metro State University who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs, have six-year graduation rates of 69% which is higher than the institutional and national norms.
“Having students feel like they belong in college and assist students to build on their confidence is what TRIO does”, says Andrew Cseter, director of TRIO student support services programs. “Nothing better than seeing a student graduate with a bachelor’s degree and their families and communities are so proud. TRIO is proud of those students, too”, says Cseter.
Unlike student financial aid programs which help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, the TRIO programs have been providing valuable supportive services to students from poor and working families to successfully enter college and graduate for over 50 years.
Today more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and community agencies host more than 2,800 TRIO projects that serve more than 800,000 young people and adults.