TRIO Scholars Program / Academics / Westminster College

What is TRIO?

The TRIO Scholars Program (or TRIO for short) is a student support services (SSS) program and scholar community, designed to provide support, guidance, resources, and opportunities that help our students thrive in college and prepare for their futures. Our goal is to help each of our TRIO Scholars reach their full potential, both in college and as they prepare for post-graduate life.

Through personalized meetings with expert advisors, workshops and hands-on learning opportunities, self-guided learning tools, career coaching planning, and unique cultural and educational travel opportunities, TRIO helps its participants make friends and campus connections, strengthen their academic skills, develop their personal financial knowledge, overcome the challenges that come with day-to-day life, manage their personal wellness, and prepare for their future after college.

The TRIO Scholars Program is funded by a US Department of Education Student Support Services (SSS) grant.

Famous TRIO Alumni

Hector Balderas, Attorney General, New Mexico, Student Support Services, New Mexico Highlands University

Cardi B, Rapper, songwriter, Upward Bound

Franklin Chang-Diaz, First Hispanic Astronaut and Chairman and CEO, Ad Astra Rocket Company, Student Support Services, University of Connecticut

Viola Davis, Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award-Winning Actress, Student Support Services and Upward Bound, Rhode Island College

Patrick Ewing, Olympian, NBA player, basketball coach, Upward Bound

A.C. Green, Former NBA Player, Student Support Services, Oregon State University

José M. Hernandez, Former Astronaut, NASA, Student Support Services, University of the Pacific

Gwendolynne Moore, U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin — 4th Congressional District (2005 to Present), Student Support Services, Marquette University

Harry Lee Williams, President and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Student Support Services, Appalachian State University

Oprah Winfrey, Talk show host, journalist, and author, Upward Bound

Services Offered

TRIO pairs each participant with an advisor who customizes services to meet their student's unique needs. Some of our most popular services include:

Academic support and coaching
Personal coaching and mentoring
Major exploration
Course selection and degree progress planning, in coordination with faculty advisors
Career exploration and planning
Grad school exploration and entrance test preparation
Exclusive scholarship opportunities
Nationwide networking with TRIO alumni
Leadership development opportunities
Educational and cultural trips
Financial and economic literacy education
Access to the TRIO resource library of materials

Program Objectives

Each year, the TRIO program strives to ensure the success of our participating students and is tasked with meeting the following goals:

At least 85% of TRIO Scholars will graduate or persist in their education from one academic year to the next.
At least 88% of TRIO participants will achieve good academic standing.
At least 80% of TRIO participants will graduate with a bachelor's degree within six years

Program Eligibility Requirements

The US Department of Education has established the following eligibility criteria for participation in a TRIO SSS program:

A current Westminster student, or be accepted for enrollment for the next academic semester at Westminster College
A citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States
Demonstrate an academic need that TRIO can meet to pursue a bachelor's degree successfully
Pursuing their first Bachelor's degree

Students must also meet any one or more of the following criteria:

First Generation (Neither parent or guardian has earned a bachelor's degree, or a single-parent/guardian household where the parent/guardian has not earned a bachelor's degree)
Income eligibility, as determined by the Federal Government. View the current income guidelines.
Have a documented disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Resources to learn more about how they may seek accommodations and support for their specific needs.

How to Become a TRIO Scholar

The TRIO Team invites you to submit an application to become a TRIO Scholar! To apply, please complete the online application found by clicking the link below. You can also pick up a paper copy of the application in the TRIO Scholars Office, located in the Student Success Center on the 2nd Floor of the McKelvey Campus Center.

Please note that you may need to gather additional information and documents to help you complete the application. Once we receive your application, the TRIO team will review your materials, contact you with any questions, and provide an admission decision as soon as possible. If you are eligible and selected to join the Program, we will contact you to schedule a program orientation and meeting with your TRIO Advisor.

Join TRIO- Online Application