Welcome to the School of Education. Skip directly to: Content or press alt or apple + c, Section Navigation or press alt or apple + d.
School of Education Logo The main School of Education website is maintained by the External Relations Office. If you have any questions regarding this site, you may send an email to webcentral@education.wisc.edu or contact the office by phone (608) 265-7875 or (608) 262-0054. If you need to access the Wisconsin TTY Relay service, the phone numbers are TTY: 1-800-947-3529 or Voice: 1-800-947-6644.


Education Building in Fall
School of Ed > Student Diversity Programs > Skip Navigation LinksCEO > TRIO SSS

TRIO

Student Support Services

TRIO is our nation’s commitment to the dream of education for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstances.  The Center for Educational Opportunity houses the federally-funded TRIO Student Support Services program.  Student Support Services (SSS) provides many services similar to the CeO center including: academic advising, assistance with accessing campus services including financial aid, mentoring, tutoring, opportunities to participate in social/cultural activities, career/graduate school advising, and much more.  Students interested in becoming an SSS participant must complete an application for the CeO center.  Please click here to complete an application for the Student Support Services through CeO.

 

History of the TRIO Programs

The TRIO programs have a long history of supporting students, from middle school to college, as they achieve success and continue into higher education.  The first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 1968 created the TRIO label that continues to be used today. TRIO initially referred to the three programs; Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and Student Support Services that existed within this reauthorization of the Higher Education Act designed to assist low-income, first generation college students, and students with disabilities to begin and complete a post-secondary education.

Upward Bound was created by the Educational Opportunity Act of 1964, the original War on Poverty statute. Upward Bound helps eligible people and veterans prepare for higher education. Talent Search was created by the original Higher Education Act of 1965. Talent Search programs serve young people in grades six through twelve by helping them to better understand their educational opportunities and options. When the 1968 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act created Student Support Services and transferred Upward Bound out of the Office of Economic Opportunity into the Higher Education Act, the TRIO label was born. Student Support Services help students who are eligible to stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degree.

Not unlike the Big Ten, which is now 11, TRIO is really five programs under one umbrella. The second reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1972 created the Educational Opportunity Centers. Educational Opportunity Centers primarily serve displaced or underemployed workers by helping them to choose a college and a suitable financial aid program. Most recently, the fifth reauthorization of the TRIO programs in 1986 created the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. McNair programs are designed to encourage eligible students to consider careers in college teaching as well as prepare for doctoral study. It took 22 years, from 1964 to 1986, to construct the current array of TRIO programs. In addition to the Student Support Services Program, the University of Wisconsin also has the Ronald McNair Scholars program.

To learn more about federal TRIO programs, go to:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html

http://www.coenet.us