By Steve Nakata, Administrative Services
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University will commemorate National TRiO Day with an open house 1:30-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in Lighty Student Services Building 260.
“Hundreds of WSU students participate in TRiO programs every year,” said Lucila Loera, assistant vice president for the Office for Access, Equity and Achievement. “National TRiO Day is an opportunity for us to educate our community about our programs and services, as well as highlight our successful students and alumni.”
WSU’s TRiO programs receive $2 million annually from the U.S. Department of Education to serve students who are first-generation, low-income, from an underrepresented group in graduate education or who have a documented disability.
According to the Council for Opportunity in Education’s website, Congress established National TRiO Day in 1986 to focus the nation’s attention on disadvantaged people aspiring to improve their lives and on providing the necessary investment to aid them in becoming contributing citizens.
Student Support Services (SSS), a program within WSU TRiO, provides tutoring, individual academic and career counseling, and leadership development. SSS serves 160 students annually with a graduation rate of over 80 percent.
Other programs within WSU TRiO include the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program and Upward Bound.
The McNair program prepares selected WSU students for doctoral studies and is accepting applications from students until March 23. Students can learn more 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at an information table in the CUB.
Upward Bound provides academic support and encourages low-income, first-generation high school students to pursue higher education. WSU’s five Upward Bound programs, strategically located throughout central and eastern Washington, enroll more students in colleges and universities than any other Upward Bound program at a four-year institution.
For more information about TRiO at WSU, contact SSS Program Coordinator Hildegarde Velasco at 509-335-7324 or sssp@wsu.edu.