TRIO is a series of programs established by Congress to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate in America’s economic and social life. While financial aid programs specifically help students overcome financial barriers, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to higher education. TRIO serves nearly 1 million low-income Americans with over 2,800 TRIO programs. The racial breakdown of these students are 37% Whites, 35% African American, 19% Hispanics, 4% Native Americans, 4 % Asian American, and 1% Other. There are also 22,000 students with disabilities enrolled in the programs, and 25,000 U.S. veterans.
According to Holly Hexter, Coordinator of International Initiatives at the Council for Opportunity in Education, the national membership association for TRIO program personnel: "It's vital that all students, regardless of income, have access to study abroad experiences." We hope that the information we provide will help connect TRIO program staff with study abroad staff and work with returned study abroad students to provide outreach to TRIO program students.
Click on the following links for information on how you as an international student, TRIO staff, or international student advisor can facilitate international outreach for TRIO programs:
