WKU News

Students and graduates from Talent Search, Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Educational Opportunity Center will participate in the 2021 National TRIO Day of Service on February 27th to express appreciation to the community for its support of the TRIO programs. For millions of students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, seven federally funded programs called TRIO are making a world of difference.

Unlike student financial aid programs which help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, the  TRIO programs have been providing valuable supportive services to students from poor and working families to successfully enter college and graduate for over 50 years.

WKU’s Talent Search programs serves 1825 students at 17 different counties.  Upward Bound provides intensive intervention programs and serves 86 students. Students in Talent Search and Upward Bound receive information and assistance in apply for college admission, scholarships, and various student financial aid programs.  Veterans Upward Bound provides unique services to veterans hoping to return to college.  Student Support Services help low-income and first-generation students to successfully begin and stay in college. The Educational Opportunity Center works with displaced or underemployed workers from low0income families.  The center helps students choose colleges and guides them through the often confusing financial aid process.  

WKU’s TRIO programs are here to help students of all ages and backgrounds work toward a college degree and financial freedom.  The kind and caring individuals that serve our students truly want what is best for students and strive daily to provide them with the care and support they need to be successful.

TRIO services include: assistance in choosing a college; tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic support in high school or assistance to re-enter high school.

Today more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and community agencies host more than 2,800 TRIO projects that serve more than 800,000 young people and adults. TRIO serves students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.  Currently, 34% of TRIO students are White, 33% are African-American, 21% are Hispanic, 4% are Asian American or Pacific Islander, 4% are American Indian, and 1% are listed as “other,” including multiracial students.

For more information about TRIO programs, please call 270-745-3270.