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TRiO History

TRiO began in 1964 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 created Upward Bound, the first program aimed at helping students from low-income families reach college. The Higher Education Act of 1965 added Talent Search, and in 1968 Congress added Special Services for Disadvantaged Students – later renamed Student Support Services – completing the original “TRiO” of programs that gave the initiative its name.

• 1964 – Upward Bound established under the Economic Opportunity Act
• 1965 – Talent Search created under the Higher Education Act
• 1968 - Special Services for Disadvantaged Students (now Student Support Services) added, completing the original TRiO
• 1972 – Educational Opportunity Centers added
• 1986 – Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program added
• 1992 – Programs formally named the “Federal TRiO Programs”
• Today – Eight TRiO programs serve students nationwide, from middle school through graduate school