TRIO Opportunity Grant

Criteria for TRIO Opportunity Grant

1. Enrolled in TRIO program
2. Classified as a freshmen or sophomore (Juniors and seniors, and those who have obtained a prior degree, will be considered if not enough first-time freshmen and sophomores apply. 
3. Must be receiving PELL (federal) gran 
4. Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 preferred 
5. Must apply for grant by meeting with a TRIO staff member, who will explain these criteria, and filling out brief application form

Must be Active TRIO student, meaning at least 3 contacts – but the more contacts, the better; Please note that TRIO’s primary purpose is to provide services to students in order to help them be successful in college and beyond. You must have an actual need for at least one of these services to be eligible:

• Tutoring (including Writing/Reading tutoring in the Writing Center)
• Career or Transfer Counseling with TRIO Career/Transfer Counselor
• TRIO Cultural, Career, or Transfer Trip
• Academic Counseling
• Academic Monitoring
• Mentoring
• Disability Services
• Personal Counseling (No personal information will be disclosed. These contacts will just be included in your total number of TRIO contacts.)

Other factors considered (but must be an Active TRIO student as well):

• Former Upward Bound student
• Recommended by a faculty or staff member in writing (e-mail is fine)
• Participating in approved community service – Check with TRIO staff
• Writing essay for $500 VEOP (Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs) Scholarship Competition
• Getting off Academic Probation
• Being a Single Parent
• Helping to organize a TRIO trip
• Being a tutor
• Being a mentor

*The value of individual grants will depend on the number of qualified applicants, but will probably be between $1,000 and $2,000 per student. If you have previously been awarded a TRIO Opportunity Grant, you will be considered this year, but preference will be given to students who have never received this grant. Decisions on grant recipients will be made by the TRIO staff when fall semester grades become available.

*Some grant recipients may not be able to accept the full grant award, and many will have to have some or all of the award applied to their loan debt. This will be determined by the Financial Aid Office, and is based on the fact that total aid may not exceed your total “cost of attendance.”