TRIO Programs

Educational Talent Search Program

Christopher Patrick Connor Prichard

Office: Patterson House

Phone: 622-1083

The EKU Educational Talent Search (ETS) Program is one of the federal TRIO, pre-college programs that serves 765 students in Estill, Garrard, Jackson, Lee, and Madison counties. ETS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and has been hosted at EKU since 1985. ETS works with students in middle school and high school who have the interest and ability to continue their education beyond high school. Two-thirds of the participants must meet federal income and first-generation guidelines for the program.

The goal of the program is to assist participants as they transition from middle school to high school, and on to a post-secondary educational institution. Educational Talent Search offers services related to the following areas: academic information, career resources, exposure to college campuses, career sites and cultural activities, financial literacy, financial aid program information, mentoring, tutoring and personal development activities. Educational Talent Search also offers assistance to out-of-school adults in identifying additional support services. ETS offers assistance for high school completion through referrals to GED programs and local high schools. Services are also available for those who are enrolling in postsecondary institutions for the first time or for those who are returning to school.

All ETS services and activities are at no cost to the student and family. More information and the ETS application can be found on the ETS website at: www.ets.eku.edu.

McNair Scholars Program

Mr. Rich Richmond, Director
Jones 409
(859) 622-6249

The McNair Scholars Program at Eastern Kentucky University is a federal initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The McNair Scholars Program encourages and assists undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who aim to enter careers that require doctoral achievement. Professional staff members provide supportive supplemental advising, offer holistic academic counseling, and facilitate structured training opportunities that enhance participants’ readiness for graduate school applications and preparation for graduate school achievement.

Services provided by the program include:

PhD faculty mentoring
Supportive supplemental advising
Holistic academic counseling
Seminars and scholarly activities that prepare participants for graduate level achievement
Paid summer research internships
Conference and presentation opportunities
Graduate school application preparation and support
EKU Scholarships

Additional information about the McNair Scholars program can be found on the website at www.mcnair.eku.edu.

NOVA Program

(TRiO Student Support Services)

Ms. Sierrah Anderson, Director
Cammack 005
Phone: (859) 622-1047
www.nova.eku.edu

The NOVA Program is a federal TRiO Student Support Services grant project committed to fostering the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of first-generation and low-income students from Orientation to Graduation.

NOVA’s retention model is comprehensive in design, providing targeted services designed to meet each student’s individual needs.

Services include:

Academic Advising
Career Counseling
Classroom Instruction
Financial Aid and Financial Literacy Consulting
Graduate School Preparation
Personal Counseling
Service Learning
Living Learning Community
Peer Mentoring
Personal Counseling
Registered Student Organization
Service Learning Experience
Scholarship Opportunities
Supplemental Grant Aid Opportunities
Tutoring Services
Workshops
...and much more!

Students who are interested in joining NOVA may apply online at www.nova.eku.edu or stop by the NOVA office to obtain an application.

Upward Bound Program

Ms. Tamara Stewart, Director
Patterson House
(859) 622-1080

EKU Upward Bound is an academic, college-preparatory program serving 125 first-generation, low-income high school students in Casey, Estill, Lee, Lincoln, Powell, and Wolfe counties. Upward Bound is funded by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the federal TRIO programs and has been at EKU since 1965.

Upward Bound provides a comprehensive year-round program each academic year and summer components encompassing a wide variety of services including educational instruction, individualized and group academic tutoring, college exposure, financial aid assistance and financial literacy, career exploration, and cultural activities. The academic year component consists of monthly on-campus academic sessions and school visits and individual contacts. The summer residential component lasts for six weeks and is designed to simulate a college-going experience by offering academic enrichment through rigorous coursework in mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, foreign language, and composition and literature, as well as electives and special interest classes. Participation is at no cost to the students.

Interested students should contact their high school guidance counselor or visit the website to “Nominate a Student” at www.upwardbound.eku.edu.

Academic Catalog