Institute of College Initiatives: A History
TRIO is a set of federally funded college access programs that provide eligible students with comprehensive support to overcome the economic, social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. In addition to providing direct services to students, TRIO programs provide relevant training for directors and staff. Established by the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, TRIO programs currently serve nearly 875,000 low-income and first-generation students ranging from sixth-grade through adult education. The TRIO community introduced the concept of the “first-generation college student” during the late 1970s Higher Education Act reauthorization, codifying it into law in the 1980 HEA reauthorization. To date, over 6 million TRIO alumni have earned a college degree.
Our Programs
*TRIO programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education