The University of Texas at Arlington has been awarded $5.8 million in federal funding over five years to continue and expand three TRIO programs that help students and adults overcome barriers to higher education and connect education with career opportunities.
The awards include two Talent Search grants totaling $3 million and a $2.8 million Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) grant. Together, the programs will provide academic preparation, college and financial aid guidance, career exploration, workforce pathway advising and other support to students and adults throughout Arlington, Tarrant County and Dallas County.
"These grants allow us to meet students and adults where they are and help them see what is possible through education," said Lisa Thompson, executive director of TRIO Pre-College Programs at UTA. "Whether we are helping a middle school student begin thinking about college, guiding a high school senior through financial aid or working with an adult who wants to return to school and prepare for a new career, our goal is to provide the information, encouragement and individualized support they need to take that next step."
UTA received two federal Talent Search continuation grants of $300,000 annually for five years. Each project will serve 600 students annually at four target schools, allowing UTA to reach approximately 1,200 students each year.
The programs serve students at Arlington High School, Sam Houston High School, Workman Junior High School and Rodriguez Junior High School in the Arlington Independent School District.
Talent Search identifies and supports middle and high school students who have the potential to succeed in higher education, with an emphasis on students from low-income households and those who would be among the first generation in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.
Students receive comprehensive academic advising, tutoring, college and career exploration, information about financial aid, assistance completing financial aid applications, financial literacy education and support transitioning into postsecondary education.
The new five-year projects also strengthen connections between education and workforce opportunities. Students will have greater exposure to career pathways, apprenticeships, industry-recognized credentials and in-demand industries while developing the academic preparation needed to pursue education and training after high school.
UTA also received a $560,000 annual Educational Opportunity Centers grant, totaling $2.8 million over five years, to serve adults in Tarrant and Dallas counties who face educational, economic or workforce barriers.
EOC helps low-income and first-generation adults pursue additional education and career opportunities, whether that means completing a high school equivalency, attending a college or university, entering a trade or technical program, pursuing an apprenticeship or earning an industry-recognized credential.
Participants receive individualized academic and career advising, assistance with college admissions and financial aid applications, financial literacy education, workforce pathway guidance and support transitioning into postsecondary education and training.
The expanded program will also provide ongoing coaching and transition support designed to help participants move from identifying an educational or career goal to taking concrete steps toward achieving it.
For adults who have not completed a high school diploma or equivalency, the program will provide initial educational planning and help participants develop individualized postsecondary and career plans. College-ready participants can receive assistance navigating admissions and financial aid as well as career-readiness and workforce pathway services.
"Educational opportunity is most meaningful when people can see a clear connection between education, their career goals and the future they want to build," said Luisa Havens Gerardo, vice president for enrollment management at UTA. "These investments allow UTA to strengthen that connection across the educational journey, from helping young students envision themselves in college to helping adults gain the education, credentials and skills that can create new career opportunities and greater economic mobility. This is an important extension of UTA's commitment to access, student success and the communities we serve."
The new grant cycle places increased emphasis on connecting educational preparation with evolving workforce needs.
Talent Search will provide students with earlier exposure to postsecondary options and career pathways, while EOC will help adults explore workforce-aligned education and training, pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships and programs leading to industry-recognized credentials.
Both initiatives also emphasize career and personal counseling that connect participants' educational preparation with skills-based pathways and emerging labor-market opportunities.
TRIO is a collection of federally funded programs created to expand educational opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. UTA's TRIO Pre-College Programs have served
North Texas communities for decades through initiatives that increase secondary achievement, postsecondary enrollment and educational attainment.
Through the new Talent Search and EOC awards, UTA will continue that work through Aug. 31, 2031, strengthening pathways from secondary education to college, credentials, careers, and lifelong economic opportunity.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 190 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
