LCC welcomes back TRIO student support services

By Karina Hartley
Staff Reporter

TRIO programs are returning to LCC and welcoming a new director and academic coordinator. TRIO operates nationwide with federal funding from the US Department of Education to provide avenues for academic success for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. After a 2021 lapse in funding, TRIO is back at LCC to serve and assist low-income individuals, first generation college students and individuals with disabilities.

With the reintroduction of TRIO to LCC, some new staff have been brought onboard. Jamilia Johnson will serve as TRIO’s new director and Ana Manzano as the new academic coordinator. In a discussion with the two, they delved into what TRIO’s return will look like for students.

Johnson herself is TRIO alum, and has been involved with directing TRIO programs in the past. She recalls field trips and live musical opportunities. She is excited to integrate those kinds of events at LCC as well as just to see students flourish. “I’m excited to see how excited they are to learn something new and to watch them build confidence and build relationships with each other and with us,” Johnson shared.

Manzano benefitted from a similar program throughout her own schooling experience. She is excited to engage with students she can directly relate to and use those commonalities to improve the experience for everyone. “TRIO works, but it works if you listen to what the students are asking for. It works if we're really paying attention to what those needs are, and not just creating the needs,” said Manzano. “I know we will have a lot of great programming, but not until we get their voices at the table, because that's what matters.”

As the program boots back up, TRIO will plug eligible students into three tracks for success. The first track focuses on foundational skills such as “study skills, time management skills [and] interpersonal skills,” explained Johnson. The program will focus on “building that base level skill set for students to be able to stand on those foundational skills.” Johnson and Manzano are also exploring the idea of a bridge program over the summer that will help ease the transition into college for students.

The second track is all about building leadership skills for students. It includes programs that encourage students to dive into collaboration and find confidence in leadership roles. While the program is still being built out, students on the TRIO leadership track will get to play an important role in sculpting what it is they are eager to learn about and bringing that to life for the program. Based on what she has experienced with other TRIO programs from around the state, Johnson discussed what LCC has to look forward to, such as peer mentoring. “Having [community partners] do workshops for our students, having them mentor for our students, having our students then be mentors by the example that they set, and then having them be a part of actually developing the program that they're in. That's what I envision,” said Johnson. Johnson also stated that she is looking forward to seeing how students in this track will shape and influence the program moving forward and is excited to see how the program develops.

The third and final track of TRIO focuses on graduation and transfer initiatives. This involves ensuring students are in good academic standing for graduation and transfer, sharpening their communication and outreach skills, and helping them eliminate any barriers that might keep them from graduating in a timely manner. This track also helps students with transfers to four-year institutions. This includes exploring what institutions are available for transfer from LCC and which are in the area, tracking scholarship deadlines and exploring possible visitations, as well as looking into what institutions will allow students to continue to benefit from TRIO services.

Each of these three tracks are ordered, but they are interwoven. “It's not like once a student finishes the foundational skills, they don't need any more,” Johnson commented.

One of the things a student benefitting from TRIO may take advantage of day to day is utilizing the new TRIO office. This is a space they are hoping to continue to make student friendly. “Our main goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where students want to be, where they don't feel like they're obligated or they just have this commitment to be,” said Manzano. Some of the resources available to students will also include a comfortable, sensory-friendly space with access to progress check-ins and their academic advisors, as well as the opportunity for TRIO students to connect with one another. “Building that community, having a space for them to exist, but also receive services—hopefully that's what a day in a TRIO student's life looks like,” Johnson added.

TRIO is looking forward to welcoming students and has capacity for up to 140 eligible students at this time. TRIO eligibility may be present if neither of student’s parents/legal guardians have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, the student has eligible income that meets standards drawn by the US Department of Education, or the student has a disability that is documented with LCC’s Center for Student Access. Applications and guidelines can be found on LCC’s website. The new TRIO office is located in the Gannon Building in room 2302, by the Center for Student Support desk in the back of the StarZone.