Since 1964, TRIO has been dedicated to helping students succeed. A federally funded, free program with employees that assist students with a passion that signals they’re not just striving for success; they’re living for it. The dedication of TRIO employees is unmatched. Their entire goal is to guide students toward success.
Trio provides services to first-generation, low-income, disabled and veteran students. Students who qualify for the Pell Grant also qualify for TRIO services.
TRIO has two success coaches in the office, Taylor Jones and StarR Logan. Success coaches help students stay on track academically to graduate on time. It is heavily emphasized that they can’t pick out classes for students, but they can help determine what classes go along with their degree based on a degree audit. If students want someone to help register for those classes TRIO has picked, contact an academic advisor for further support. Tutoring services are also available for those who don’t quite feel like they can study well in their homes or dorms. This space is available for TRIO members from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the weekdays.
TRIO also has scholarship resources and support to help students avoid paying out-of-pocket or dropping out for financial reasons. Again, their job is to help students find these scholarships, not do the work for them, but they do help students understand the lingo as they work through the application process. They will also work with students on editing essay submissions for scholarships and helping with the tedious task of filling out FAFSA forms.
It sounds almost too good to be true. So, what’s the catch? TRIO does have some rules for incoming members.. Don’t think of it as a give-take relationship, it’s more of a give-and-give-and-give-even-more relationship.
TRIO asks members to attend a minimum of four free workshops that they provide on the UMSL campus. There’s an entire list of workshops to choose from. Workshops like “Mastering Midterms” offer guidance on how to study and do well during midterms. “Test Taking Anxiety shares advice on managing anxiety during tests, and “APA Formatting Workshop” teaches the proper way to quote and write in APA. Again, a give-give relationship. There are 46 workshops this semester alone, starting September 23 and ending November 21, making now the perfect time to join TRIO.
There are two ways students can join TRIO. The first is by going to the TRIO office downstairs in the Millennium Student Center. Once there, students can speak with Pamela Dickens and receive an application via their student email. For students looking to skip the middleman, the second way to join is by clicking the application link on the Student Outreach and Support site. The application process is easy, taking less than five minutes to complete. If students qualify for the program, they will be contacted by one of the success coaches for an appointment. From there, they will start developing a college success plan. Success plans focus on individual goals, dreams, and personal challenges that may get in teh way of focusing on school.
Taylor Jones, success coach for TRIO, is product of TRIO. Jones’ TRIO success story is one of many inspirational stories of perseverance. Jones credits her success in TRIO to her mentor, Trent Ball, of Southeast University of Missouri. Jones says she wants to see students succeed like she did when she was in the program.
For students from out of state or new to the area, TRIO offers cultural enrichment opportunities for the St. Louis area. Not to call them field trips, but they’re college field trips. High school teachers lied about there not being field trips in college. These trips could include visiting the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, the St. Louis Art Museum and more.
TRIO is a great tool for students of any grade level. The tools learned from TRIO services will help not only students’ academic careers but also their overall lives. They live to see students succeed, so be a success and join TRIO.
