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, and his staff hear about these kinds of difficulties all the time. Fortunately for students facing such obstacles, TRiO can offer some help.

The TRiO Office is receiving nearly $1 million in U.S. Department of Education funds to continue smoothing out some of the rough spots.

The College is to receive $235,689 for each of the next four years, which will enable the support program to assist first-generation and low-income students and students with disabilities in achieving academic success, graduate and transfer to four-year institutions.

The amount represents an increase of about 3 percent over the previous four-year allocation, which marked Pellissippi State’s first participation in the program.

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.

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 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.

The grant money also assists students in seeking further financial support after they transfer to four-year schools and finances a full-time staff of three.

He points out that the TRiO program sometimes can even save a student from dropping out. During Pellissippi State’s first four years of having TRiO support available, students using TRiO had a higher reenrollment rate than those of similar background who didn’t receive the services.