HAMMOND La. — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the TRIO programs at Southeastern Louisiana University nearly $5 million to provide counseling and information on college admissions to individuals from underserved populations looking to enter postsecondary education.
TRIO refers to the original three programs of the Higher Education Act of 1968: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services. While retaining the TRIO name, the program has expanded to include other programs, including Veterans Upward Bound and Educational Opportunity Centers.
“These programs are geared toward first generation and low income students in an effort to prepare them for postsecondary education opportunities,” said Duane Donald, Southeastern coordinator of Special Projects and TRIO. “The programs have proven to be very effective, and many students from low income families depend on them to succeed academically in high school and college.”
Educational Talent Search programs for Tangipahoa and Washington parishes were awarded $3.04 million to cover operations through August 2016. The grants fund programs in selected schools in the two parishes.
ETS serves junior and senior high school students, offering tutoring and non-academic services, including personal and career counseling, information on financial aid and ACT/SAT testing.
The Educational Opportunity Center at SLU received a $1.87 million grant through 2016. Donald said the program serves more than 1,200 people in East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.
The program, Donald said, is committed to improving the lives of its participants with academic assistance, career exploration, enrollment and financial aid assistance and financial and economic literacy counseling.