The Future of TRIO is in Your Hands

The TRIO PAC (https://www.triopac.org/) is a registered federal political action committee focused on supporting leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who are strong advocates for college opportunity.  The PAC is deeply committed to being bipartisan.  To the extent possible, funds raised by the PAC will be utilized to support low-income, first-generation students’ and college opportunity professionals’ participation in the campaigns of advocates who are in competitive races.

TRIO is a set of five federal programs – the first of which is Upward Bound–that provide students the help they need to learn about college, prepare and apply for college and financial aid, and graduate once they enroll. From 1968-1972, there were three programs. The official name, Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds, was too long and the programs became unofficially known as TRIO.  When a fourth program was added in 1972, people continued to call the programs TRIO and the name was officially changed to the Federal TRIO programs in 1992.  

Why shouldn’t I just give money to candidates I support?  Why the TRIO PAC?

Money given to campaigns too often ends up supporting television, digital media and other ads that are repeated over and over. Supporting the TRIO PAC amplifies your belief in the importance of federal college opportunity programs. Money given to the TRIO PAC will be used to support getting out the vote activities focused on hard-to-reach communities such as young people, people in rural areas, and individuals in communities with high concentrations of limited income individuals. This focus has the added benefit of introducing young people and adults from low-income communities to their power and their right to have their voices heard. 

Why is the PAC Bipartisan?

Both Republicans and Democrats have been leaders in the fight for college opportunity. It is critical to maintain this bipartisan agreement for the long-term future of college opportunity.