Pellissippi State’s TRiO Student Support Services grant is renewed

Life can throw a variety of obstacles in the way of someone seeking a college education. The best intentions can be derailed by financial, family, personal or academic concerns.

Brian Todd, director of Pellissippi State’s TRiO Student Support Services program, hears stories about these kinds of difficulties all the time. Fortunately for students facing such obstacles, he and his staff can offer some help.

The TRiO office, which is nearing the end of its first four-year cycle, is receiving nearly $1 million in U.S. Department of Education funds over the next four years.

The College been approved to receive $235,689 for each of the next four years. This will enable the support program to continue assisting first-generation and low-income students and students with disabilities in achieving academic success, graduating, and transferring to four-year institutions. The amount represents an increase of about 3 percent over the previous allocation.

The TRiO program’s mission is to assist students with their transition to college; provide opportunities for self-understanding, cultural development, and career exploration; strengthen academic performance; and motivate participants toward the successful completion of a college degree.

The grant money also assists students in seeking further financial support after they transfer to four-year schools, as well as financing a full-time staff of three at the community college.

Todd says the money is used to provide tutoring by up to 20 peer tutors, sponsor workshops and seminars, provide college transfer assistance and offer actual financial support to students for such things as tuition, books and fees. The Pellissippi State TRiO program offers opportunities for college planning and career development, along with leadership development and success seminars.

“In some respects, we provide services similar to those of a high school guidance office,” Todd said.

He points out that the TRiO program sometimes can even save a student from dropping out.

Statistics from Pellissippi State’s first four years of having TRiO support services available show that students who stay in the program have a higher graduation rate than those who do not receive the services.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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