• Access and Success for Low-Income and Minority Students—Title III, Title V, TRIO Programs, GEAR UP

    Federal Policy Priorities

    • Protect funding for TRIO and GEAR UP, and oppose any proposal to scale back or eliminate any significant component of the programs.
    • Boost funding for the Upward Bound and Student Special Services programs that serve low-income, first-generation students as well as military veterans. 
    • Support increased funding for Title III (Aid for Developing Institutions) and Title V (Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions) of the Higher Education Act.

    Summary

    TRIO programs are federal outreach programs to identify and serve students, first generation college students, and individuals with disabilities. A key TRIO Program, the Upward Bound program serves: high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. Upward Bound supports academic instruction in mathematics, lab sciences, work study programs and education and counseling services.

    More than 840,000 students took advantage of TRIO programs last year, ranging from 6th grade through college graduation. Thirty-five percent of TRIO students are Whites, 35% are African-Americans, 19% are Hispanics, 4% are Native Americans, 3% are Asian-Americans, and 4% are listed as "Other," including multiracial students. More than 7,000 students with disabilities and approximately 6,000 U.S. veterans are currently enrolled in the TRIO programs. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, and financial guidance and other support for educational access and retention. As required by Congress two-thirds of the students accepted must come from incomes of at least 150 percent of the poverty line and neither parent attended college.

    AASCU also advocates for funding to the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program through the TRIO programs in order to increase the number of undergraduate students who participate in advanced degree programs. Funding is used to encourage enrollment in advanced degree programs through mentoring, test preparation for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), tutoring and assistance in applying for graduate school.

    GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students. Upward Bound serves: high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. GEAR UP funding has remained even in the proposed fiscal year 2011 (FY 11), FY 12, and FY 13 budgets.

    AASCU believes that growing our historically black colleges and universities is important for higher education. AASCU supports proposed FY 13 funding for HBCU’s that would support 96 HBCU’s. This includes $85 million in mandatory funding. AASCU also supports the Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) program which funds competitive grants to expand and enhance the academic quality, institutions management, fiscal stability.

    Title III and Title V funding provides support for institutions that serve large percentages of minority and disadvantaged students. This funding, which is awarded both competitively and by formula, provides educational opportunity and academic services for minority students. Funds can be used to plan, develop and implement activities that support faculty development, improvement of academic programs and student services.

POLICY & ADVOCACY