Student success through Community Engagement

University of Memphis: Internal and external engagement: TRIO

The TRIO program called the Student Success Programs at the University of Memphis is a federally-funded program aimed at supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a college degree. It provides academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring financial guidance and assistance and other supports aimed at educational retention and success.  It offers both internal and external connections within the framework of University of Memphis programming for underserved student success.

Characteristics

TRIO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. 790,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities — from sixth grade through college graduation — are served by over 2,800 programs nationally. TRiO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. TRiO programs provide direct support services for students and relevant training for directors and staff.

Community engagement activities 

TRIO Classic program: Open to eligible* students pursuing all majors. This federally-funded program provides free academic, career, financial, personal, and social support to assist participants in adjusting to the rigors of college life, with the overall goal of graduating with a baccalaureate degree.

TRIO STEM program: This federally-funded program provides the same support as the TRIO Classic program for eligible* students majoring in programs related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).

Is this program available to underrepresented students?

Yes, as long as they fulfill the criteria of: 

  • First-Generation Student: Neither parent has a bachelor’s degree
  • Low-Income
  • Require special services due to a disability

Participation in the University of Memphis program requires admission and enrollment at the University.  Eligibility for the program requires U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status meeting least one of the following criteria:

  • First-Generation Student: Neither parent has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Meet Federal TRIO Program Family Low-Income level guidelines.
  • Require special services due to a disability.

Some students may receive financial aid.  Students are recruited to the program prior to their entry in their freshman year.  Most students enter the program during that first year, though some may join early in the sophomore year.  In AY 2015-2016, approximately 300 students were enrolled in TRIO programming.

TRIO internal connections offer a mix of involvement, engagement and integration program components.  Counselors are available for one-on-one sessions where students learn about campus resources such as tutoring, financial assistance and campus organizations.  The Counselors provide personal counseling for issues like integrating academics into a student’s work schedule. The counselors also help prepare students to meet with their academic advisors.

Of particular help in building integration connections is the University’s Educational Support Program (ESP).  ESP Centers are located on sites across the University. In addition, they offer on-line support. The Centers provide tutoring staffed by ESP-certified tutors.  Supplemental instruction is provided in the form of weekly review sessions for students taking particularly difficult courses. Twice-a-Week Workshops focus on specific skills such as studying, reading, writing, memory, test-preparation, and test-taking.  And on-line tutoring is provided for Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Nursing, Psychology, Statistics, and Writing. TRIO Counselors take TRIO students to ESP Centers and prepare them to meet and work more effectively with ESP tutors.  

Involvement and integration connections are also offered TRIO students through the Tiger Success Institute.  Designed for first generation students, 50 students are selected each semester for intensive involvement and integration connection.  The Institute starts with an orientation session followed by a series of ten 90 minute workshops concluding by a capstone event. The workshops connects first generation students with other first generation students, teaches college success strategies, identifies potential mentors and helps the student develop an action plan beyond college.     

External TRIO programming involves cultural and civic engagement connections.  Students attend campus and community theater and creative arts events. They also visit graduate schools in the region.  External civic connections are service oriented. Examples include volunteering labor for the Mid-South Community Food Bank, river and water clean-ups, support for after-school gardening projects for local schools, work on community gardens and operation of a Friendship Center for the Homeless.