VEOP Programs

Programs at a Glance

Talent Search
Talent Search programs serve young people in grades six through twelve. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and student financial aid programs. This early intervention program helps people from families with low to moderate incomes and (where neither parent has a baccalaureate degree) to better understand their educational opportunities and options. Over 386,241 Americans are enrolled in 471 Talent Search TRIO programs.

Upward Bound
Upward Bound helps young students prepare for higher education. Participants receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays and during the summer. Currently, 772 programs are in operation throughout the United States serving 56,324 students.

Student Support Services
Student Support Services helps low-income students stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degrees. Participants, who include disabled college students, receive tutoring, counseling and remedial instruction. Students are now being served at 930 colleges and universities nationwide working with more than 196,000 college age students.

Educational Opportunity Centers
Educational Opportunity Centers located throughout the country primarily serve low income first generation adults seeking more education and training.  These programs help adults explore career options, find out about training and education opportunities and assist with the financial aid process. Through workshops and individual appointments these programs serve 210,065 individuals in 138 programs across the country.

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement
Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement programs are designed to encourage low-income students and minority undergraduates to consider careers in college teaching as well as prepare for doctoral study. Students who participate in this program are provided with research opportunities and faculty mentors. This program was named in honor of the astronaut that died in the 1986 space-shuttle explosion. Currently there are 179 programs, serving 4,118 students.

GEAR UP

GEAR UP identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program's intent is to improve low-income student test scores and high school graduate and college enrollment rates by encouraging more young people to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the courses needed to prepare them for post secondary enrollment.

The Vermont Picture  

Vermont currently has 16 different Educational Opportunity Programs including one statewide GEAR UP program. Collectively, these federally funded programs serve over 6500 Vermonters and bring in over $8 million dollars annually to the state. There are seven Student Support Service programs spread throughout the state that serve almost 1,500 students. The 6 Upward Bound programs serve more than 330 students statewide. The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) hosts the Talent Search program working with 1,250 high school students, the statewide GEAR UP program working with 1,700 needy students, and the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), working with more than 2,000 adults. Additionally, the University of Vermont has a Ronald McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement grant.

The Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs are proud to note that we have great support from our entire Congressional delegation. Senators Jeffords, Leahy and Representative Sanders and the Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs are ensuring that Vermont 's first generation college bound, low income and disabled students are attending college and being successful in record numbers. Together, we have had a tremendous impact on the quality of life for all Vermonters. More needs to be done: with the support from our members, we are confident that TRIO and GEAR UP will help more Vermont students reach their goal of a college education.

VEOP Fact Sheet