Grants to fund TRIO programs
Aroostook County’s three higher education institutions are among 14 Maine colleges that recently received U.S. Department of Education grants to boost their TRIO student support services.
Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine campuses in Presque Isle and Fort Kent each received five-year grants to fund TRIO-Student Support Services programs. NMCC will receive a grant for $247,583, while UMPI will get $301,355 and UMFK’s share is $288,181.
Statewide, a total of $4,089,814 was awarded to institutions throughout the state.
According to the the Maine Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA), the funding will make the struggle to get into college, succeed and pay for college a bit easier and more assured for several thousand of Maine’s most at-risk students — those from first-generation and lower-income backgrounds and students with disabilities.
The grants are to fund programs designed to increase the rate at which eligible students remain in college, succeed and earn their degrees. TRIO-Student Support Services participants receive personalized academic advising, counseling, financial aid and career advising, and engage in small group and cultural activities.
Maine Educational Opportunity Association (MEEOA) represents the Federally-funded TRIO programs that include: Educational Opportunity Center, Educational Talent Search, McNair Scholars, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, and GearUp (a non-TRIO college access program).
Also awarded grants were Central Maine Community College, $281,511; Eastern Maine Community College, $220,000; Kennebec Valley Community College, $284,754; Southern Maine Community College, $220,000; Thomas College, $220,000; University of Maine, $561,225; University of Maine Augusta, $484,682; University of Maine Farmington, $284,753; University of Southern Maine, $220,000; Washington County Community College, $244,677; and York County Community College, $231,103.
