Trinity Launches Partnership with College Track

Trinity University’s Division of Enrollment Management is thrilled to announce a new official partnership with College Track, an organization that supports students from underserved communities across the country and prepares them to be the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.  

College Track’s mission is to democratize potential by equipping students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor's degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. 

The College Track 10-year programming model focuses on three pillars of support: academic affairs, student life, and college completion. This structure contributes towards their scholars earning bachelor's degrees at more than two and a half times the rate of their first-generation peers. 

“We are enormously grateful for the support of President Vanessa Beasley and Vice President of Enrollment Eric Maloof, who were instrumental in allowing us to pursue this opportunity,” says Justin Doty, dean of Admissions. “We firmly believe this partnership will allow us to attract and enroll more talented cohorts of College Track students who will make incredible contributions to the Trinity community in the coming years.”  

While the University has previously enrolled students from College Track, an official partnership will allow the Office of Admissions to reach a much broader audience of 4,000 College Track scholars from five College Track locations across the country: Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. Admission team members are currently visiting these site locations this fall to meet with College Track scholars, educate them about the new partnership, and conduct interviews for admission.  

Similar to the University’s other official partnerships with YES Prep Public Schools and the San Antonio Independent School District, Trinity is committing to provide the necessary financial, academic, and social support structures to ensure these College Track scholars will thrive and feel a sense of belonging within the University's community and throughout their Trinity journey.

In the partnership’s inaugural year, Trinity launched a new program, Discover Trinity, spearheaded by Associate Director of Admissions Nicole Fratto Garcia. Through this annual program, the University will strengthen its partnership with College Track by providing its scholars with the opportunity to fly to San Antonio and experience all Trinity's campus has to offer.

In September 2024, Trinity hosted its first cohort of 15 College Track high school seniors on campus to participate in Trinity In Focus. 

“Having worked with these scholars and their College Track counselors for the past six months through the Discover Trinity application process, it was so incredible to see them walk out of the airport and onto our campus,” Fratto Garcia says. “Some of these students had never been on an airplane, and I know it was a big leap of faith for their families to allow them to travel across the country by themselves—it was emotional for me knowing how much they had overcome just to visit our campus.”

The first cohort of College Track students visited campus in September 2024 through the new Discover Trinity program.

The visiting College Track students got their first glimpse of college life while staying in Trinity’s dorms. During Trinity in Focus, they explored campus on a student-led tour, heard from current students about the Trinity experience, spoke about their specific academic interests with faculty, and learned more about Trinity’s admissions process, financial aid, and scholarships.

“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this program, especially our current Trinity students who served as overnight hosts for these prospective students,” Doty says. “It was truly exciting to see these students enjoying their visit experience, and several commented that Trinity is now their top choice. Year one of Discover Trinity definitely exceeded our expectations, and we believe it made a very positive and lasting impression on these 15 high school seniors.”