West campus news Releases Archive
University TRiO programs receive funding to enhance current recruitment, retention efforts
Apr. 7, 2005
Access and retention programs at ASU’s Tempe and West campuses have received a boost from TRiO with two grants totaling more than $2.3 million.
The U.S. Department of Education TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Division has awarded the ASU TRiO Student Support Services Program at the West campus a five-year continuation grant of $280,908 a year, totaling approximately $1,404,540. The ASU Disability Resource Center (DRC) at the Tempe campus received a four-year continuation grant of $233,527 a year, totaling approximately $934,108.
The Federal TRiO programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRiO includes six outreach and support programs aimed to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college and disabled students to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs.
The TRiO program at ASU's West campus is one of about 800 Student Support Services programs in the United States and its territories and has been providing assistance and services to first generation, low income, and disabled students since 1993.
Lucia Wilson, director of the TRiO Student Support Services Program at ASU’s West campus, said receiving the grant will allow for West’s SSS program to continue to serve their students. “The majority of the federal money goes to providing services to monitor the academic progress of the program participants,” she said.
“We offer a lot of one-on-one assistance to work with our students to retain them and then help them to graduate. This grant will help us serve 240 students, which is an increase from the 210 students in our current cycle.” In addition, Wilson said this grant will enhance many of its current services, which include free one-on-one tutoring in math and math-related courses, science courses, and Spanish courses; professional mentoring from faculty, staff, and TRIO alumni; and access to a computer lab fully equipped with all ASU student systems and free printing.
Tedde Scharf, assistant dean of Student Life with Disability Services at the ASU Tempe campus, said their grant will be used for academic enhancement services in the TRiO Student Support Services Program.
“We are very happy about receiving this grant, which we plan to put to good use,” Scharf said. “This grant will help us enhance our services such as tutoring, study skills and learning strategies; career exploration and access to the world of work; personal development; and cultural enrichment activities.” Scharf said a portion of the grant will also be used to hire two professional staff, a clerical position, and para-professional student employees to develop and provide the programs and services needed.
The DRC TRiO SSS program on the Tempe campus has been in existence since 1977 and currently serves about 309 students with disabilities out of approximately 1,600 to 1,700 students registered with DRC.
To learn more about the TRiO programs at ASU’s West campus, visit the Web at: www.west.asu.edu/sa/trio. To learn more about the TRiO programs at ASU’s Tempe campus, visit the Web at: www.asu.edu/drs/TRIO.html. For general information about TRiO programs offered at ASU’s campuses, visit the Web at: www.asu.edu/drs/trio/trio_homepage.html.
Tempe campus media contact:
Manny Romero, mlromero@asu.edu
ASU Office of Public Affairs
(480) 727-3116
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