- Written by ealmaguer
- Published: 26 Apr 2018
About Us
The Washington State TRIO Association
WSTA is an association of TRIO professionals who support the success of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students. WSTA helps TRIO programs in Washington State accomplish their mission by promoting program development, disseminating best practices/high impact educational practices and collecting data on the students’ specific educational needs. WSTA sponsors professional conferences, meetings, training, mentoring and other educational forums for its members throughout the calendar year. WSTA understands the contribution that low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students provide to our nation and believes in supporting these individuals as they pursue their higher education degree.
WSTA Vision
Every TRIO student and program in Washington State has the resources and tools needed to achieve their full potential.
WSTA Mission
To be a catalyst in Washington State for progressive initiatives that promote educational equity, access, and opportunity for traditionally marginalized student populations.
What is TRIO?
Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance. In support of this commitment, through the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress established a series of programs called TRIO to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from low-income backgrounds where neither parent graduated from college. The Higher Education Act of 2008 broadened the definition of who is eligible for TRIO services to include: homeless youth, those in foster care, English as a Second Language learners, students with disabilities, and other disconnected students. More than 2,800 TRIO Programs currently serve nearly one million low-income Americans.
While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs provide the mentoring/advising support needed to help students overcome academic, class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. TRIO services ensure that educational opportunity remains available for all students in an increasingly competitive global economy and world.
History of the Federal TRIO Programs
The history of TRIO is progressive. It began with Upward Bound, which emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administration's War on Poverty. In 1965, Talent Search, the second outreach program, was created 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 a series of educational opportunity programs. By the late 1960's, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs.
Over the years, the TRIO Programs have been expanded and improved to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. The Higher Education Amendments of 1972 added the fourth program to the TRIO group by authorizing the Educational Opportunity Centers. The 1976 Education Amendments authorized the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, initially known as the Training Program for Special Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel. Amendments in 1986 added the sixth program, the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Additionally, in 1990, the Department created the Upward Bound Math/Science program to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of math and science. The Upward Bound Math/Science program is administered under the same regulations as the regular Upward Bound program, but it must be applied for separately. Finally, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 amended the Student Support Services (SSS) program to permit the use of program funds for direct financial assistance (Grant Aid) for current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants.
The legislative requirements for all Federal TRIO Programs can be found in the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2 [ MS Word (217K) | PDF (188K)]. The requirements for the SSS Grant Aid can be found in Public Law 106-554.
WSTA is an association of TRIO professionals who support the success of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students. WSTA helps TRIO programs in Washington State accomplish their mission by promoting program development, disseminating best practices/high impact educational practices and collecting data on the students’ specific educational needs. WSTA sponsors professional conferences, meetings, training, mentoring and other educational forums for its members throughout the calendar year. WSTA understands the contribution that low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students provide to our nation and believes in supporting these individuals as they pursue their higher education degree.
WSTA Vision
Every TRIO student and program in Washington State has the resources and tools needed to achieve their full potential.
WSTA Mission
To be a catalyst in Washington State for progressive initiatives that promote educational equity, access, and opportunity for traditionally marginalized student populations.
What is TRIO?
Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance. In support of this commitment, through the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress established a series of programs called TRIO to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from low-income backgrounds where neither parent graduated from college. The Higher Education Act of 2008 broadened the definition of who is eligible for TRIO services to include: homeless youth, those in foster care, English as a Second Language learners, students with disabilities, and other disconnected students. More than 2,800 TRIO Programs currently serve nearly one million low-income Americans.
While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs provide the mentoring/advising support needed to help students overcome academic, class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. TRIO services ensure that educational opportunity remains available for all students in an increasingly competitive global economy and world.
History of the Federal TRIO Programs
The history of TRIO is progressive. It began with Upward Bound, which emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administration's War on Poverty. In 1965, Talent Search, the second outreach program, was created 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 a series of educational opportunity programs. By the late 1960's, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs.
Over the years, the TRIO Programs have been expanded and improved to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. The Higher Education Amendments of 1972 added the fourth program to the TRIO group by authorizing the Educational Opportunity Centers. The 1976 Education Amendments authorized the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, initially known as the Training Program for Special Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel. Amendments in 1986 added the sixth program, the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Additionally, in 1990, the Department created the Upward Bound Math/Science program to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of math and science. The Upward Bound Math/Science program is administered under the same regulations as the regular Upward Bound program, but it must be applied for separately. Finally, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 amended the Student Support Services (SSS) program to permit the use of program funds for direct financial assistance (Grant Aid) for current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants.
The legislative requirements for all Federal TRIO Programs can be found in the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2 [ MS Word (217K) | PDF (188K)]. The requirements for the SSS Grant Aid can be found in Public Law 106-554.
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