TRiO programs may face financial woes

The TRiO program may face another big funding cut.

TRiO Student Support Services (SSS), as described on the Mt. Hood website, is a federally funded grant program that has been serving students at MHCC since fall 2001.

Susan Godoy, TRiO College First director, said, “These programs have been very successful and we’ve seen them transform the lives of families because they were able to access a college education and get help.”

The program faces a possible 5.2% decrease in funding for the 2013-14 school year, due to federal sequestration cuts – mandatory federal agency spending reductions triggered by Congress’ failure this winter to reach a budget agreement.

Eric Juenemann, TRiO Student Support Services director, said the SSS has faced many similar cuts before, but that this hit is a little bigger.

Godoy said the reductions have “forced our programs to make some changes on how we manage our resources.”

“It’s been hard enough this year figuring how to best service students,” she said. “Before, we were serving over 600 students. Now, we are serving 501. With less staffing and less resources, the students who need these services will be less informed.”

Godoy said such funding cuts are very hard to prepare for.

Juenemann expects to receive formal notice this summer on when the next cut will be official. “I think the decision has been made and will be made; we just don’t know the exact dollar amount yet,” he said.

Staffing and financial woes aside, it’s the students helped by these programs that are the main worry.

“If the funding keeps getting reduced, we will have (fewer) students who will be able to get a head start on the college experience,” Godoy said. “We have fewer financial resources to help students who are impacted by their own financial issues.”

Juenemann said, “This is an economic imperative. We need college-educated individuals to fill the jobs of the 21st century. These are vulnerable populations we are catering to, and they need help to get there.”

Speaking about TRiO’s work, Juenemann said, “I really like to immerse myself with the students we are working with, to support them and enjoy their success.”

Godoy said many will come back and share their thanks and successes “and that’s what keeps me motivated,” she said. “We really have to focus on the ‘now.’ ”

The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of participants and to ease students’ transition from one level of higher education to the next. It is designed to provide academic support to low-income students, first-generation college students and students with disabilities.

TRiO began when Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans to enter college and graduate. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and are referred to as the TRiO Programs, referencing the initial three title programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Special Services.