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 1960s, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs.

Our Mission

Texas College is an institution that is dedicated to meeting the educational and developmental needs of the student clientele. It achieves its mission through faculty teaching, scholarship, and service activities on campus in the community, and in the world.

The mission of Upward Bound here is to encourage all students to think college and prepare them to be successful by providing tutoring and support services to ensure college retention and graduation. Our vision is that students regardless of background will use their academic performance to build a better life for themselves, their families and the community.

Upward Bound

Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in pre-college performance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families, high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree, and low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

All Upward Bound projects MUST provide instruction in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign language. Other services include:

• Instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and other subjects necessary for success in education beyond high school
• Academic, financial, or personal counseling
• Exposure to academic programs and cultural events
• Tutorial services
• Mentoring programs
• Information on postsecondary education opportunities
• Assistance in completing college entrance and financial aid applications
• Assistance in preparing for college entrance exams
• Work study positions to expose participants to careers requiring a postsecondary degree
• Letter on Work/Study Position Provision

III. Analysis of Program Performance

A. Goals and Objectives

The goal of the program is to generate among low-income youths and potential first-generation college students enrolled in high school the skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond high school.

B. Strategies to Achieve the Goals

Population Targeting

To participate in Upward Bound (UB), students must be between the ages of 13 and 19 (except for veterans), have completed the 8th grade, and have a need for academic support to successfully pursue a program of postsecondary education. Participants are selected on the basis of recommendations from their counselors, teachers, and social agencies. Two-thirds of the project participants must be low income persons (defined as 150 percent of poverty level) who are also potential first-generation college students. The remaining one-third must be either low-income or potential first-generation college students.

Chapter 508-2

There are now 601 Upward Bound grantees serving 44,700 students. Grants are usually for four years, but applicants whose grant proposals are scored in the top 10 percent of a competition are awarded five-year grants. In FY 1990 the Department also awarded additional funds to establish Upward Bound summer residential programs emphasizing math and science learning. There are now 81 Upward Bound math-science projects serving 3,712 students.

Services Supported

Students are recruited for participation in Upward Bound through their high schools, known as "target schools." These target schools are listed in the application; approximately 3,300 such schools are served by UB projects throughout the country. Students in UB programs generally participate in an intensive six-week summer residential or nonresidential program held on a college campus. They continue to receive academic and support services during the school year, typically on weekends or after school.

All Upward Bound projects must provide instruction in the following areas:

• Math (through precalculus);
• Laboratory science;
• Foreign language;
• Literature; and
• Composition.

In addition, the following services are typically provided in the academic year and summer components of the project:

• Instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and other subjects necessary for success in education beyond high school;
• Academic or personal counseling;
• Exposure to cultural events and academic programs;
• Tutorial services;
• Information on student financial assistance;
• Assistance in completing college entrance and financial, and preparing for admissions tests;
• Exposure to a range of career options; and
• Mentoring.