TrIO TrIO

By Tyler Sprague & Kaylin Daniels

TRIO IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM designed to aid first-generation and low-income students. While in high school, TRIO students are exposed to college and higher education programs that help acclimate them to a college environment. TRIO programs give students “the personal attention, planning and information to manage their financial constraints, strengthen their academic skills, adjust to the campus environment and set goals that lead to graduation and responsible participation in society,” according to TRIO’s page on the university website.

TRIO’s primary goals are to give high school students as much information as possible about college and build their academic skills to help them transition more successfully. TRIO offers college tours, leadership training, goal

There are four programs TRIO offers to younger students and college students: Educational Talent Search (ETS), Upward Bound, Opportunity Scholars (OSP) and the Ronald E. McNair Program.

Education Talent Search encourages middle and high school students to consider college. Upward Bound is a pre-college program providing information and opportunities to TRIO-eligible high school students in Richland County.

At USC, the Opportunity Scholars Program (OSP) supports South Carolina residents who are federal Pell Grant-eligible, first-generation students. OSP offers smaller freshman courses taught by a team of instructors prepared to meet students’ needs and concerns. Support includes tutoring assistance, academic advising, guidance on undergraduate research, study abroad opportunities, mentoring, workshops and cultural enrichment opportunities, according to TRIO’s website.

“I love it. We are called a family. There are a lot of events we go to, and all of the people in it are in the same situation as you,” OSP participant Madison Bishop said. “We are all first-generation and learn things by ourselves because our family members have not done it.”

Althea Counts, the director of the TRIO program at USC, said she wants students to have a “global experience” in college.

“We were able to get our own in-house study abroad experience for our Opportunity Scholars,” Counts said of OSP’s eight-day study trip to Dublin, Ireland.

The Ronald McNair program helps eligible undergraduates in pursuit of a graduate degree. The program offers faculty mentoring, research experiences, and other academic opportunities, so the number of first-generation and lowincome Ph.D. recipients will increase. Students enter the program in the spring, complete research in the summer, and then go on to finish the requirements for graduate school by taking an online course.

USC has been sponsoring TRIO Programs for over 50 years, lending the support of the university in keeping the programs active and helping first-generation, low-income students. The College Student Programs Office is located at 1400 Wheat St. For more information about TRIO, visit https://sc.edu/about/offices_ and_divisions/trio_programs.