(August 25, 2025) MARYSVILLE, Calif. – Yuba College continues to support first-generation, low-income and disabled students through its TRiO programs, which provide vital academic resources, advising and college readiness services.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TRiO is a cluster of federally funded programs that began in the 1960s to expand access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The name “TRiO” was originally given to the first three programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services.
Yuba College currently hosts three TRiO projects: Student Support Services (SSS), Student Support Services–STEM (SSS-STEM) and Upward Bound (UB).
Since 2020, the SSS program has served approximately 140 students annually. SSS-STEM supports an additional 120 students per year, with a focus on those pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Both programs offer services such as one-on-one academic advising, tutoring, financial aid guidance, transfer assistance and personal counseling. These initiatives are designed to increase retention and graduation rates, while helping students successfully transition to four-year universities.
The Upward Bound program, which serves 73 high school students annually, helps prepare first-generation, income-eligible students for college. UB participants receive academic support, college and career guidance and the opportunity to earn college credit before graduating high school through a variety of year-round services, including Saturday study academies, weekly tutoring, individualized counseling and a six-week summer program.
Students participating in TRiO programs at Yuba College exceed national standards regarding post-secondary enrollment, transfer rates and degree attainment rates. 100% of Yuba College Upward Bound students from the class of 2024 enrolled in post-secondary education and 78% of Upward Bound students who graduated high school in the class of 2018 attained an associate or bachelor’s degree within six years of graduating high school.
Recently, the college was awarded renewed funding for both the TRiO SSS and TRiO SSS-STEM programs for the next five years. Each program will receive $272,364 annually, for a total of more than $2.7 million in federal support over the five-year period. The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, with congressional authorization and support from Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s office, which helped facilitate the funding. Yuba College extends its gratitude to Congressman LaMalfa for his continued advocacy, which is vital to sustaining these important programs.
“TRiO programs make a lasting impact on students’ lives by removing barriers and building pathways to academic success,” said Dr. Tawny Dotson, president of Yuba College. “We welcome these students and families to participate in these programs and take hold of their futures.”
All TRiO services are free to eligible students, though participation requires a strong commitment from both students and their families.
For more information about TRiO programs at Yuba College, visit: https://yc.yccd.edu/student/trio/
About Yuba College
Yuba College is committed to providing equitable student learning and success. We offer degree and certificate programs leading to career and transfer opportunities for our diverse communities. It is our vision to provide innovative and student-centered educational opportunities and services that are equitable and that empower students to become transformative and productive members of our communities.