TRIO funding at stake
Program helps low-income and first generation students and students of color

-- Margaret A. Pribel

When a student doesn’t know anyone with a degree in higher education, they don’t know the protocol for acceptance to college. Everything is a mystery. If no family member ever applied for a scholarship, students don’t know how to apply and they often don’t know that some scholarships are not based on grade point average.

Financial aid can seem like a nightmare when a person doesn’t have a clue about its workings. Asking for help on a troublesome subject can be confusing and terrifying for students with a learning disability and/or without a college mentor. TRIO is the answer for students who qualify.

Individuals who are economically disadvantaged, first-generation college students, and/or disabled, qualify for TRIO services. Given that first-generation college students lack role models, the TRIO programs offer guidance to what might otherwise appear to be a closed system. TRIO supports students academically with tutoring and mentoring, and socially by holding events that encourage friendship and networking in a university setting.

On June 2, at Metropolitan State University’s Great Hall, a congressional reception was held for TRIO programs throughout the state. State legislators were invited, and most at least sent representation from their staff. The objective of the gathering was to gain support from the legislature so that TRIO programs don’t lose funding.

The cosponsors of the event were Metropolitan State University, Minnesota Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MnAEOPP), Minnesota Private College Council, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, and the University of Minnesota General College.

The focus of the event was a question-and-answer session with a panel of students and successful alumni from TRIO programs. Phillip Miner from the Minnesota Private College Council moderated the event and asked panelists from around the state about the value of TRIO programs. Most of the students and alumni agreed that assistance with financial aid was crucial for their success. Students also received specialized assistance. One Kenyan student lacked knowledge of United States history, but she got help from the TRIO program. The Upward Bound program assisted students in visiting colleges so they could make an educated decision about the school they wanted to attend. Students learned about scholarship opportunities, and one student received over $20,000 in scholarships with help from TRIO programs. Other students benefited from social aspects of the program that helped them overcome shyness.

Panelists agreed, TRIO programs have helped people of color and people in general, advance in life. One of the panelists pointed out that there are a lot of underprivileged people and any student could be an Einstein, but success doesn’t come without support.

Raúl Ramos, Community Outreach Recruitment Specialist for MnSCU, testified about how TRIO programs have worked in his life. He told how he went from dead-end job to dead-end job and always wanted something better. A friend challenged and encouraged him to get a degree, but he didn’t listen at first. The friend introduced him to the Upward Bound program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). He was unsure about his chance of success as an older student, but Student Support Services was there for him. He worked two jobs, raised four children as a single parent, and graduated from MCTC with honors. He received two scholarships while attending and became a student advisor. All of his children have also benefited from the TRIO program. Ramos serves on the Minnesota board of directors for TRIO.

Kim Frair, a Metropolitan State student and TRIO participant said, “The reason I applied in the beginning was for the tutoring.” Frair mentioned to Pauline Danforth, director of Metropolitan State’s TRIO program, that she was looking for a part-time job and Danforth said they had an opening. Frair’s work experience helped her overcome her shyness quite a bit, and she went on to become a mentor to other TRIO students. Frair said, “Trio lets you learn and use people skills, and feel more confident.”

Karen Pike presented awards recognizing legislators who support education. When asked about a rumor that Norm Coleman had pulled his support from the program, Pike said, “We worked really hard to educate Norm Coleman on this and we do have his support. In fact he was very instrumental this spring in early votes, he also signed a bipartisan letter to appropriations to restore full funding to the TRIO programs.” Pike said that telling success stories is important. She knows that aides who attend the event will report back to legislators with those stories.

Phillip Miner closed the presentation by stating the need to increase the number of successful students, and that schools are ready to support students who face economic, social and cultural barriers. He challenged the audience to consider what the world might be like without programs like TRIO.

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