History of the Federal TRIO Programs and SSS

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 1960’s, the term “TRIO” was coined to describe these federal programs.

The Student Support Services (SSS) program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education. The SSS program may also provide grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants. The goals of SSS are to increase college retention and graduation rates of its participants and to facilitate the process of transition from one level of higher education to the next.

Adapted from:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/triohistory.html http://www.ed.gov/programs/triostudentsupp/index.html