During Interim President George Hynd’s State of the University address on Wednesday, Nov. 18, he said, “TRiO received continued funding for five years to the tune of $1.4 million.”
TRiO Achievers Program is an educational program that was a part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 intended to increase graduation rates amongst college students who are considered to have academic disadvantage.
“The TRiO Achievers program is designed to increase the persistence and graduation of program participants. All services are specifically designed to meet this mission. Services offered include intensive academic counseling, intrusive advising, academic supports such as tutoring and workshops, financial literacy, career development, exposure to cultural events such as those offered in Charlotte at the Blumenthal, and leadership development (through our Leadership Council and our LEAD 120). Our 3-day early orientation program, TRiO CONNECT, and 3 sections of TRiO ACAD, are also designed to ease the transition for our students,” said TRiO Achievers Program Director, Rose Gray, M.A., M.S.
Many Winthrop University students are a part of the TRiO Achievers Program.
“We currently serve over 180 students who meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) first-generation; 2) meet specific income guidelines; or, 3) are a student with a disability,” Gray said. “There are over 1,000 similar programs in colleges and universities across the US. While the formal name of these programs is Student Support Services, you’ll find TRiO under different names on different campuses.”
Because of the 1.4 million dollars in funding TRiO has received, the program will continue to foster and serve a wide array of Winthrop students.
“[With this funding], we will continue to operate the TRiO Achievers program as we have in the past, except making adjustments for COVID. All services are primarily the same, with the addition of more intensive career development services during this 5-year cycle,” Gray said. “Funding has increased since 2005. We always keep our eye on the federal budget appropriations process each year and are thankful for our TRiO supporters in the House and Senate.”
Receiving funding during a global pandemic is very fortunate, and TRiO, with this funding, is now better equipped to adjust to performing their services amidst this new reality. Like many programs on campus, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on TRiO.
“TRiO has moved to primarily remote services. Students meet with their Academic Counselors and tutors, attend ACAD and LEAD classes, and attend Leadership Council meetings and workshops all virtually,” Gray said.
Winthrop is very fortunate to have TRiO be a part of the campus community for at least the next five years.
“TRiO is a federally funded grant program, funded through the US Department of Education. All TRiO programs, including Winthrop’s, must apply every 5 years for a new funding cycle. TRiO grants are extremely competitive and proposals with less than a perfect score are rarely funded,” Gray said.
With now having funding to last for the next five years, TRiO will continue to be able to operate on Winthrop’s campus and further help students to reach their academic and personal goals.
