The U.S. Department of Education has awarded UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) more than $7.7 million in nationally competitive grants for its suite of TRIO programs, which help low-income and at-risk students succeed in their academic endeavors.
Of the seven grants awarded to UNLV, three will benefit the Educational Talent Search (ETS) program, two will benefit the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) program, and two others will benefit the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs Personnel Initiative. The funding amounts represented by the new grants are $3,903,645, $2,199,570 and $1,599,696, respectively.
"The TRIO programs provide motivation and educational support to students from low-income and first generation backgrounds," said William Sullivan, associate vice president for retention and outreach at CAEO. "As a result of these grants, nearly 20,000 eligible participants will receive additional opportunities to progress through the academic structure from middle school to post baccalaureate programs."
Normally, ETS and EOC grants provide just four years of funding; however, the center's new ETS and EOC grants are five years in duration because the proposals associated with these grants were scored highly by the federal government. The two training program grants are two years in duration and are among only eight such training program grants awarded in the entire country.
ABOUT THE TRIO PROGRAMS
The Educational Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to the postsecondary school of their choice. Talent Search also serves high school dropouts by encouraging them to reenter the educational system and complete their education. The goal of the program is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in the postsecondary education institution of their choice.
The Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. An important objective of EOC is to counsel participants on financial aid options and to assist in the application process. The goal of EOC is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.
The Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs provides funding to enhance the skills and expertise of project directors and staff employed in the Federal TRIO Programs. Training projects may include conferences, seminars, internships, workshops, or publication of manuals. Training topics are based on priorities established by the Secretary of Education and are announced in the Federal Register notice for application.
For additional information, contact Dr. William W. Sullivan at (702) 597-2545 or william.sullivan@unlv.edu.
Since 1978, UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach has assisted with graduating more than 11,000 Clark County students from high school and college. Our collage of programs has provided low-income and at-risk students in our community the opportunity to enjoy academic and educational experiences that would otherwise not be available.
