UNC Asheville has been awarded a $1.3 million TRIO grant from the federal government, marking a significant milestone for the institution. This funding, allocated over five years, is intended to aid first-generation, low-income, and disabled students.
The TRIO program, established in the 1960s, initially comprised three initiatives: Upward Bound (UB), Talent Search (TS), and Student Support Services (SSS). The name TRIO emerged when the Higher Education Act of 1965 was amended in 1968, and the program has since expanded to include nine components, seven of which offer direct student services. More about TRIO can be found here.
In 2022, more than half of UNC Asheville’s student population qualified for one or more of these program criteria, according to Regine Criser, assistant provost of Student Success and Engagement. “This grant really helps us to provide this targeted, holistic support for the specific group of students who we know face different barriers than some other students on campus,” Criser stated. She emphasized the importance of this support in ensuring students graduate successfully and have meaningful experiences on campus.
The funding will facilitate the establishment of a TRIO SSS program by Spring 2026, aiming to assist 140 students each semester. Criser noted, “Of course, we don’t only have 140 first-generation, low-income, or students with disabilities on campus. Students will be invited to apply for the program. There will be a review and selection process. It really allows us to expand and deepen some of this work that we are already doing.” The grant will also enable the hiring of a TRIO program director and an academic success coach.
Similarly, Western Carolina University has secured two TRIO grants totaling $2.8 million. Each grant, valued at $1.4 million, will be distributed over five years to the university’s Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) and Office of Student Retention (OSR). Wesley Satterwhite, director of the Office of Accessibility Resources, remarked, “The students with disabilities and students who are first-generation, students who are low income, they really have extra challenges when it comes to finishing college and then moving on to what’s next after college. This is just an awesome opportunity for us to provide that extra support to help those students.”
Western Carolina University reported an enrollment of 11,845 students for the fall 2025 semester, with 34% being first-generation undergraduates, 37% classified as low-income, and 12% identifying as having disabilities. More details about the university’s student composition can be found here.
The OSR grant is directed towards supporting STEM students who are first-generation and low-income, while OAR will benefit 100 students annually through the TRIO Disabled Student Support Services program. A significant portion of the grant will be used for hiring staff and providing cultural or academic enrichment activities, such as college visits and educational materials.
