Youth and Early College Programs share common goals:
- To increase educational opportunities for youth;
- To help students gain access to higher education;
- To motivate students to participate in college courses while enrolled in high school; and
- To foster student success through interventions such as assessment, coaching and mentoring.
Educational Talent Search (ETS)
Created in 1965 as part of the Higher Education Act, Educational Talent Search is a federally funded pre-college program offered at Tri-C since 1968. Its goal is to provide the skills and motivation necessary for students in grades 6-12 to complete a program of secondary education and enter and succeed in the postsecondary program of their choice. Participants receive a variety of free services and participate in scholastic, cultural and enrichment activities.
Program Services
Academic Services
- Academic advising
- ACT/SAT/PSAT test preparation
- Ohio state test preparation
- Study skills workshops
- Personal development
- Summer Enrichment Program
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
Career Information Services
- Career counseling, fairs and exploration
- College admissions assistance
- College fairs and tours
- Financial aid counseling and application assistance
- Scholarship information
Scholars also participate in cultural activities. ETS serves more than 1,300 students annually. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Visit tri-c.edu/trio-programs/educational-talent-search or call 216-987-6310 to learn more.
High Tech Academy (HTA)
High Tech Academy is an innovative dual enrollment program in which Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students in grades 10-12 attend a half-day of classes at their high school and a half-day of college classes at Tri-C’s Metropolitan Campus. HTA offers rigorous curriculum that helps students develop academic, technical and leadership skills.
Students can choose classes from various HTA pathways:
- College Preparatory (Liberal Arts)
- Engineering Technology
- Information Technology
- Business Management
- Health Careers
- Creative Arts
Ultimately, the college-level classes count toward high school graduation requirements. This educational collaboration coordinates programming for more than 275 CMSD high school students annually. Set apart from traditional College Credit Plus, HTA offers many enrichment components to foster achievement and career exploration and features a required community service component. CMSD and Tri-C administrators oversee daily operations on campus. Interested students must complete the High Tech Academy application process to be accepted.
Founded in 2000, HTA received major support from National City and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Now, with generous and continuous support from PNC, High Tech Academy students are afforded unique opportunities and experiences with tuition costs paid on their behalf.
Upon high school graduation, High Tech Academy seniors can apply for the HTA Completion Scholarship, established for students who wish to earn an associate degree from Tri-C. Other students transfer to four-year colleges and universities or enter the workforce. More than 1,200 students have earned college credits through HTA, with more than 80 earning an associate degree at the same time as their high school diploma. Visit tri-c.edu/hta or call 216-987-3549 to learn more.
Upward Bound (UB)
Upward Bound is a year-round pre-college TRIO program for CMSD students attending John Hay, John Marshall, East Tech, Maple Heights and Glenville High Schools. UB works in cooperation with schools, Tri-C and the community to help students graduate from high school and enter, succeed in and graduate from college.
Upward Bound provides:
- College visits
- Career and financial aid counseling
- Tutoring
- Field trips
- Preparation for OST, ACT and SAT Tests
Students also attend a six-week summer session, and graduating seniors participate in an eight-week bridge component. UB is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Visit tri-c.edu/upwardbound or call 216-987-4958 to learn more.
Upward Bound Math/Science (UBMS)
Upward Bound Math/Science is a pre-college TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBMS provides an academically enriching and rigorous year-round math and science curriculum to help participants succeed in high school and college. The program targets CMSD high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Participants are recruited from the following schools:
- East Tech High School
- Garrett Morgan High School
- Lincoln-West High School
Participants receive academic support services, such as tutoring and ACT/SAT prep, throughout the academic year. Year-round academic planning and advising, hands-on project-based learning, exposure to STEM professionals, monthly educational workshops, technology training, financial literacy and scholarship assistance is provided, along with a six-week TRIO Summer STEM Academy. Participants may receive a monthly stipend upon completion of specific criteria, Visit tri-c.edu/ubms or call 216-987-4927 to learn more.