TRIO Talking Points
Talking Points
TRIO Programs are very effective and many students from low-income families
depend on these programs to succeed academically in high school and college. In fact,
since 1965 an estimated 2.2 million students have graduated
from college with the special assistance and support of our nation's TRIO Programs.
In addition, one TRIO Program in particular, the Ronald E.
McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program, is one of only a few programs in America
that encourages low-income and minority undergraduates to
prepare for doctoral study.
"Although 11 million Americans critically need to access the TRIO Programs, federal
funding permits fewer
than 7 percent of eligible youth and adults to be served."
The TRIO Programs were originally established by the federal government
in 1965 to ensure equal educational opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race,
ethnic background, or economic circumstance. In many
communities, the TRIO Programs are some of the only programs available that help students
to overcome the class, social, academic and cultural
barriers to higher education. The educational and human services offered through the
TRIO Programs are distinguishable from all other counseling
programs in America because TRIO Programs 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 counselors 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.
Targeted Toward 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
postsecondary process and do not necessarily value a higher
education.
Built on Relationships
Over 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.
Committed
to Tough Cases
In most cases, students in the TRIO Programs are poor and are desperately trying to
climb out of "the vicious cycle of
poverty in America." Many students come to TRIO from neighborhoods that are filled
with violence, discouragement, negativity and hopelessness. A
single parent raising several children, an older child helping to raise younger siblings,
a physically-disabled person with few financial
resources and a struggling high school student trying to escape a life of poverty
describe the young people and adults who turn to the TRIO
programs for help and special assistance.
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
and 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, fewer federal employees are working with
TRIO today than 20 years ago.
* * *
Historically, most counselors, clergy or parents don't have the time or expertise
to work
one-on-one with most of the students now enrolled in our nation's TRIO Programs. Most
students from low-income families seek TRIO services
because they receive little or no encouragement at home. To most of the more traditional
counselors, students from low-income families attempting
to overcome social, academic and cultural barriers are too time-consuming. Such students
require "special services" that most counselors don't or
won't provide.
TRIO Programs protect our federal investment in student financial aid and have helped
to reduce defaults in the federal
student loan program. Additionally, the federal investment in the TRIO Student Support
Services Program is just $825, $242 per student in the
Talent Search Program and only $156 for each student enrolled in a Educational Opportunity
Center.
Access and retention services are and
must continue to be an absolutely essential component of the Federal strategy to ensure
equal education opportunity in America. All existing
research indicates that very few states are willing to help low-income students overcome
class, social, academic and cultural barriers to higher
education. In fact, the TRIO Programs were established in 1965 because most states
were blatantly ignoring students from low-income families who
needed "special services" to successfully finish high school and prepare for college.