The TRiO program andTRiO College English Transitions program:
Frequently asked questions
Contact TRiO
40 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis,
MN 55455
Phone: 612-625-0772
Fax :612-625-0704
E-mail:
trio@umn.edu
What is the TRiO Access to Success program?
TRiO ATS is a program for 150 selected freshmen who
demonstrate strong potential for academic success at the University,
but whose high school records may not match the typical profile of
students admitted to the University of Minnesota. Acceptance into
TRiO ATS ensures admission to the University of Minnesota through
the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
What is the College English Transitions (CET) program?
CET is an intensive college academic English support
component for 50 TRiO students who are non-native speakers of
English and permanent residents of the U.S.
What does TRiO do?
Since 1976, the TRiO program has provided enhanced college advising
and instructional experiences to help ease the transition to college
life and build strong foundations for success. TRiO learning
communities have become the foundation for the First Year Experience
that all first-year CEHD students now take. Each semester, TRiO
offers Integrated Learning (IL) communities in science and
psychology and classes in multicultural speech and composition and
editing.
How are students selected for TRiO ATS?
Decisions are based on an overall assessment of the admission
application by a team of staff from University Admissions, CEHD, and
TRiO. Low- to modest-income, first generation college students and
students with disabilities who have demonstrated strong academic
potential are considered. Many TRiO students are recipients of MEP,
Wallin, Minnesota "I Have a Dream," Page, and University Founders
scholarships or participants in Bridge to Academic Excellence. Many
TRiO students have also participated in high school college
preparatory programs such as Upward Bound, Educational Talent
Search, GEAR UP, high school CET, MEP, College in the Schools or
Admission Possible. The TRiO selection is the final of all
University admission stages.
How long do students stay in the TRiO program?
TRiO students whose college majors and career paths include
education, human services, social justice, leadership, business
education, marketing, personnel management, sports, or kinesiology
may stay through graduation if they remain in CEHD.
TRiO students interested in other majors remain in TRiO for as little as two semesters and transfer to other University colleges.
How do students benefit from TRiO participation?
Students who enroll in TRiO Integrated Learning (IL) classes earn
better grades than other University students enrolled in the same
classes without the IL component. TRiO's most successful IL class
helps students enrolled in biology. In this course, TRiO students
earn four times more A grades than non-TRiO students.
CET students graduate at three times the rate of students with
similar preparation who do not participate in AEP.
TRiO advisers have smaller student caseloads so when problems arise
students almost always see their adviser within a day or two.
TRiO provides a limited amount of scholarship funds to TRiO students with Pell Grants and unmet financial need.
The TRiO Student Advisory Board helps TRiO students develop leadership experience. The board organizes food drives, social events, and philanthropic drives, and attends conferences.
TRiO students have the opportunity to develop study partnerships with peers aspiring to similar majors and mentoring relationships with faculty and advisers.
What are the expectations for TRiO students?
Advising support: TRiO students are expected to meet with advisers
monthly during their first semester. Advising staff provide the
following: academic support, including course schedule planning and
feedback on class progress; financial aid, budgeting, college major,
and career counseling; study skill development; and assistance
finding internships, study abroad opportunities, and employment.
Advisers help students learn to independently navigate University
systems and develop connections with other students, faculty, staff,
and the community.
Academic support: TRiO students enroll in the same required and elective courses as all other CEHD freshmen, including a First Year Inquiry course. Additionally, TRiO students are expected to register for at least one two-credit IL course in their first year. IL courses are small 18- to 25-student recitation or discussion classes that help students succeed in challenging courses such as biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, psychology, and sociology.
IL classes help students develop effective study skills and habits. IL instructors reinforce concepts that are introduced in lectures with cooperative group problem-solving exercises, presentations, and recitation.
CET students take their University freshman composition course from instructors specially trained and experienced in teaching multilingual students Additionally, CET student enroll in a multicultural speech and a editing for writers course.
What do current TRiO ATS students say about the program?
TRiO is:
- “Like a family...they value success.”
- “Different people joining together to accomplish one specific goal.”
- “Going beyond your expectations.”
- “Academic excellence.”
About the IL and AEP courses:
- “It's good to have a close bond in smaller class settings so when you go out into a bigger class you can see familiar faces.”
- “I would be as confused as my friends if I was not in this class.”
- “The class was very helpful!”
- “I took English in high school, but the University composition courses were much more difficult. The AEP instructors were really good teachers and I learned a lot.”
About the advisers:
- “I like your honesty!”
- “I think that the advisers were great in answering questions and having their sources ready for me to explore.”
- “I think they put the cherry on top of the cone! Learning these things were helpful but having advisers who crack jokes helped make the days go faster.”
- “Major and career planning sessions got me really thinking about what I want to do in my future.”
- “Overall the encouragement the advisors gave me helps to motivate me to do better in classes.”