Getting into college is hardly the finish line for听students; support programs like TRIO are integral in ensuring that听many听college students have the resources and support听they need in order听to听do听well.
At HBU, the TRIO program is part of the听Department of Student Success & Advising.听As director of HBU Student Support Services for TRIO, helping students is personal for Cristina Ramos.听Everyone in the department, including听Sarah Garza, administrative assistant for TRIO Student Support Services,听understands that听the department鈥檚 approach听to each student is听individualized.听鈥淲e really try to meet students wherever they are in their collegiate journeys, and cheer them on toward customized success,鈥澨鼼arza听said.
The customization听comes听especially through听relationships. Ariana Alexander, an HBU TRIO student success coach,听engages students听not only with program staff, but helps connect听them with other mentors. She recently served as a host for a TRIO dinner in which program participants asked questions of professor panelists.听听
鈥淲e hope students can really get to know their professors,鈥� Alexander said.听鈥淥ne of the reasons for the dinner is that听it听is an environment in which conversations can take place. We鈥檙e hoping to give students building blocks for their own success.鈥�
Students听in听TRIO听have access to听activities and resources听like听success seminars, financial literacy workshops, writing workshops, operas, musicals, ballets, museums and more. The experiences expose them to new people, opportunities and fresh ideas.
Junior Eunique Williams, a Biology major, has visited听graduate schools, attended pre-medical conferences and served as a student ambassador, all听through听the听TRIO program.听鈥淢y experiences have shaped my professional and leadership development. I鈥檝e even听made gains听academically through the program,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ithout TRIO, I would not have been able to experience such rich opportunities. I love the fact that the doors of TRIO staff are always open to students for support.鈥澨�听
Ramos said that听every听student gains something听distinctive听to him or her. 鈥淭RIO is a program that caters to the needs of each听student in the program,鈥澨齭he said.听听
Trent Clark, a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,听describes TRIO as one of God鈥檚 blessings. 鈥淚 know TRIO has allowed me to grow as a person and to experience so many new things in life,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he TRIO staff members have become an indispensable part of my support system here on campus.鈥�听
As the dean of the Department of Student Success & Advising, Dr. David Hao witnesses the positive results of TRIO participation each year.听鈥淭RIO is one of the most important听programs at HBU in improving overall student听retention and timely graduation,鈥� he said.听鈥淭RIO works!鈥�听
More than just听promoting听accomplishments听and听the acquisition of听new ideas听while听in school, TRIO is helpful for students鈥� life trajectories. Ramos said, 鈥淲e love serving students by providing clear paths in navigating their lives听at HBU and beyond.鈥�听
International Business Major听Jacqueline听Mendez, a senior, agreed. 鈥淭he events and workshops I鈥檝e been part of have left an impression on me,听and听I continue to learn from听them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough TRIO, I have gained valuable experiences that will enable me to be successful after graduation.鈥�
What is TRIO?
The federal TRIO program is a taxpayer-funded initiative of the U.S. Department of Education.听(TRIO is not an acronym.)听The program serves first-generation college students, students who meet U.S. Department of Education income guidelines,听and听students who have a documented disability. It allows for the training of TRIO staff members听as well. Its existence is the result of the听Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the听Higher Education Act of 1965听and the Higher Education Amendments of 1968.