Loyola University Chicago

Achieving College Excellence

Student Academic Services

TRIO Information

‌‌ACE's TRIO Grant

The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) five-year grant at Loyola University Chicago was first awarded in fall 2010 to serve eligible students who qualify as first-generation students, high financial need students, and students with documented disabilities. This program is marketed at Loyola as Achieving College Excellence or ACE and serves a minimum of 140 undergraduates annually. The project is housed in the Office of the Provost in the Sullivan Center.

For the 2018-2019 project year, the program was supported by 55% in federal funds and 45% in University funds.  On July 14, 2015, the program was awarded an additional 5 years of funding to serve students through August 31, 2020.

The grant was awarded to achieve the following three outcomes:

1.  Good Academic Standing (99.6%)

2.  Year-to-year Persistence (100%)

3.  Six-year Graduation Rate (87%)

The following additional objective from the previous grant is continuing its role as a main staple as well: Enrollment in Graduate or Professional Program

About TRIO Programs Nationwide

As noted on the U.S. Department of Education's website, "the Federal TRIO Programs are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects."

"The recipients of the grants, depending on the specific program, are institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth and secondary schools. Combinations of such institutions, agencies, and organizations may also apply for grants. These entities plan, develop and carry out the services for students. While individual students are served by these entities, they may not apply for grants under these programs. Additionally, in order to be served by one of these programs, a student must be eligible to receive services and be accepted into a funded project that serves the institution or school that student is attending or the area in which the student lives."

 

 History of TRIO Student Support Services


The Office of Post-Secondary Education's website explains, "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 Postbaccalaureate 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."

To learn more about the services TRIO offers, please visit their website.