What is TRIO?

Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.

In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. These Programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs (initially just three programs). While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Who is Served

As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from families with incomes under $28,000, where neither parent graduated from college. More than 2,700 TRIO Programs currently serve nearly 866,000 low-income Americans. Many programs serve students in grades six through 12. Thirty-seven percent of TRIO students are Whites, 35% are African-Americans, 19% are Hispanics, 4% are Native Americans, 4% are Asian-Americans, and 1% are listed as "Other," including multiracial students. Twenty-two thousand students with disabilities and more than 25,000 U.S. veterans are currently enrolled in the TRIO Programs as well. For more race and ethnicity data for each TRIO Program (Upward Bound, UB Math/Science, SSS, Talent Search, EOC, and McNair), see “Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Federal TRIO Programs,” a News You Can Use fact sheet from the National TRIO Clearinghouse.

 How it Works

Over 1,000 colleges, universities, community colleges, and agencies now offer TRIO Programs in America. TRIO funds are distributed to institutions through competitive grants

Evidence of Achievement

Students in the Upward Bound program are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in TRIO; nearly 20 percent of all Black and Hispanic freshmen who entered college in 1981 received assistance through the TRIO Talent Search or EOC programs; students in the TRIO Student Support Services program are more than twice as likely to remain in college than those students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in the program.

INTRODUCTION
 

“The Mission of the Rio Hondo Community College TRIO programs is to provide college advisement and services in a compassionate, encouraging, and supportive manner to a diverse group of high school and college students, such that all students eligible for acceptance into a four year college or university” 

Rio Hondo Community College was founded in 1960 and today enrolls over 20,000 students from the cities of Whittier, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, El Monte, South El Monte, and areas of Downey, La Mirada, La Puente, and Industry.  Students at Rio Hondo can earn an Associate of Arts/Associate of Science degree, transfer to a UC, CSU, or private university, or earn a certificate in technical and professional fields.  High school students can also take courses at Rio Hondo College.  Students must obtain permission from both their high school counselor and their parent in order to take a class at Rio Hondo.

            Since 1996, Rio Hondo College has housed two federally funded TRIO Programs, Upward Bound (1996) and Student Support Services (2001).  These programs are along with a dedicated computer lab are located in T-103 & T-105A.  Currently the programs provides services to Rio Hondo College Students and to high school students at the following secondary schools; California, El Rancho, Pioneer, South El Monte High Schools.  The Trio Program staff consists of: Dr. Zolita Fisher, TRIO Director; Norma Garcia,  UB Educational Advisor; Ignacio Andrade, Eloise Valdivia, Mayra Serrano UB Tutors; Cynthia Pallini SSS Educational Advisor, Michelle Valdivia, Edwin Co,  Hovhannes Mgrdichian, SSS Tutors; Brenda Herrera and Elda Carpio, Clerks.

            We welcome your interest in the Rio Hondo College Trio Programs!   We hope that your web browsing experience will be informative and encouraging.