UND TRIO Programs will celebrate its 50th anniversary of being on campus, Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Alerus Center. TRIO was originally conceived by Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration as part of the “War on Poverty” to help American students from all populations reach academic success. In 1966 UND applied for and received its first TRIO program, Upward Bound. Since that time UND TRIO has grown to include five programs serving more than 2,500 participants a year. Each of the five programs targets a specific population of students who are primarily low-income and/or first-generation Americans interested in pursuing successful college careers. The TRIO Programs include:
Program Population
Talent Search Middle and High School students
Upward Bound Students Grades 9-11
Educational Opportunity Center Adults interested in college
Student Support Services Students currently enrolled at UND
McNair Scholars Juniors and Seniors at UND interested in a Ph.D. research field
The celebration will recognize UND, out of more than 2,800 TRIO programs in the country, as one of the longest continuously funded programs. The Feb. 25 events at the Alerus Center include Dr. Arnold Mitchem, President Emeritus of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), who will discuss social change and college access since the 1960s at 10:00 a.m. in the Alerus Ballroom 2. This event is open to all UND staff.
To see the impact TRIO has made at UND, view this video:
