TRiO's Uncertain Future
The University of Alaska Southeast is in a state of confusion. Students and staff alike are unsure if a program called TRiO will continue to be supported within the campus during the fall 2009 and spring 2010 semesters.
By: Hollis Kitchin
TRiO is a federally funded program that was created in 1964. Its goals are to motivate and support students who are from low-income families, first generation college students and students with disabilities. There are currently 11 different TRiO programs set up within the state of Alaska sharing a 3 million dollar grant to help students that qualify succeed in their college goals.
During a Student Government meeting held on October 2, Provost James Everett of UAS made an announcement that UAS would not be reapplying for the five-year grant which funds TRiO. At the time this decision was made, TRiO was not meeting the federal requirements set out for the program to successfully apply for the grant.
TRiO needs a minimum of 160 students and at least 67% of those students must qualify for dual eligibility; this means that they must meet two of the necessary requirements to be eligible for the program's benefits.
During the fall 2007 semester, there were 104 students in the program and only 47% of them met dual eligibility. As of the fall 2008 semester, there are 188 students enrolled and qualifying for TRiO and 78% of them meet dual eligibility requirements.
In an interview Everett stated that, “We had difficulty in meeting the federal requirements for participation in the grant, they had issued a finding in an audit of the program and based on those difficulties, and other program management issues, I felt the program was already at risk for continued participation.”
The largest concern with the students on the UAS campus is whether or not the same opportunities will be provided with or without the aid of the Federal Government.
TRiO provides a large variety of resources for students that are eligible. Carol Comolli, TRiO Director at the UAS campus, gives an example “If a student comes to us saying 'My grant didn't come I have to have this $240 biology textbook or I won't graduate, I'll have to drop out, I'm falling behind', TRiO will buy it and check it out to that student for that semester, we won't give it to them because we can't by law, [but] we can develop a library.”
Benefits such as the lending out of books, laptops and calculators help provide students with the tools they need to succeed in their classes. TRiO has the ability to hire tutors for specified student needs. Unlike the Learning Center on campus, which only has tutors in the subjects of Math and English, TRiO can hire tutors in Biology, Spanish and History, and these tutors can sit and work with the student for as long as it takes for them to understand the material.
TRiO also provides workshops to help students improve their writing skills and understand MLA formatting.
“TRiO has helped me with my education by sticking by my side and making sure that I am keeping up with my classes, and am not falling behind,” explained Lorena Phillips, a 19-year-old general education major from Noatak. According to Comolli the TRiO program does not hold students hands and makes sure they are working hard; Trio informs students, who may not otherwise be aware of how they are doing in their classes, of their grades so they can seek the help they need to improve them.
“They have been a huge help! I was able to get all my financial aid, housing and various other UAS related issues taken care of before the semester started with the help and assistance of TRiO!” 24-year-old psychology major, Larina Santos from Juneau exclaimed.
Because of the small number of students TRiO helps, they are able to provide help in filling out paperwork and finding answers to scholarship questions in a much more one-on-one manner than that of other offices on campus.
During the Student Government meeting, many students raised concern that if the TRiO program is brought in-house, the same friendly and helpful atmosphere might be lost and that would be a big loss. “Trio has lent me calculators, given me money towards my education and a campus family when I knew no one,” Kiara Alexander, a 31-year-old human services graduate from Washington said.
Carol Camolli explains that the TRiO program puts on events for the students, giving it a close knit feel and allowing for a close bond between students. She does not claim that this is something only TRiO has, the same thing occurs with sports teams and other various groups where people spend large amounts of time working together and providing support for one another.
“We are trying to ensure the success of all of students through a variety of programs in Academic Affairs and through Student Services. In my experience over the last 20 years, we have a unique and remarkable group of faculty and staff here involved in student success initiatives who commit every day they come to work to helping students succeed in their programs at UAS,” Provost Everett replied in answer to a question regarding enrollment and student retention.
He went on to explain, “We are examining the way forward with the TRiO program, including alternatives that might be possible given improved experience with our management of the federal grant and their requirements for participation. The program Director is working closely with other UAS staff and this office to ensure the best outcomes for all TRiO participants.”
At this point in time it is unclear what will happen to TRiO, applications for the grant renewal are due in spring of 2009. TRiO is now meeting the federal requirements, and students within the program are successful in their studies. With these new improvements of the TRiO program and the decisions made in the 2008 sp,ring semester only time will reveal the future of TRiO on the UAS campus.
