Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are supported to be directed to a four-year university.
For almost three years Berenice Pagan worked full time at two jobs while studying at night to support her young son as she is a single mother.
However, this routine prevented her from knowing what were the options that her Rio Hondo school, in the city of Whittier, offered for needy and low-income students like her.
A year ago, through another student, Pagan learned about the TRIO program, which offers him direct and specialized care according to his education plan.
TRIO is a federal program of the United States Department of Education that provides student services designed to identify and provide services to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The program includes eight categories designed to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities who face significant barriers to success in higher education.
Pagan, of Mexican descent, said she has taken advantage of the program through the help of educational advisors and counselors who are guiding her to graduate in spring 2021.
The student expressed that the program asks them to set a new goal to motivate them to be prepared.
“Being a first-generation student, it comes with the challenge that you’re not born with this guide to navigating college,” Pagan said. “But in the program we meet with our educational advisers on a regular basis. I feel like I can easily get one-on-one access with any of my counselors or any of my educational advisors, if necessary. “
Through counseling and motivation, Pagan said that she is on the verge of earning her dual major in early childhood education and business administration from Rio Hondo.
By fall 2021 he will transfer to Cal State Fullerton or Cal State Long Beach to earn his bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
“It is impressive to see how you can achieve your goals,” said the mother of a 5-year-old.
Help for more students
Today Rio Hondo College celebrates that it has received $ 2.68 million in federal grants to expand training services that foster persistence and retention of first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities.
Brenda Beza, project supervisor for student support services for the TRIO program, said the program has existed in Rio Hondo for more than 10 years and each year exceeds the 165 required students by about 50.
Additionally, the TRIO program also benefits another 124 students who are part of the STEM program.
Beza explained that about 84% of the students are Latino.
Both grant programs focus on individualized student training to create educational and personal success plans, academic advising, academic excellence workshops, study skills, time management, tutoring, financial literacy, transfer application support, and financial aid. .
Beza pointed out that in the 1960s, when these programs emerged under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the psychology behind it was that first-generation college students, education was the great equalizer and that if you educate a first-generation low-income, the cycle of generational poverty could be broken.
“So the financial literacy skills component is also important,” Beza said.
Who qualifies?
Beza said that in order for students to be accepted into the program they must be low-income, first-generation, and have a learning or physical disability.
“Students must provide a medical document proving their disability and register with the office of services for students with disabilities,” Beza said.
The primary goal is for students who are part of the TRIO program to complete their community college education within two years. Students can choose whether to transfer to a four-year university or pursue a vocational career.
Statistics from 2019 revealed that 48% of students earned an associate degree or certificate and 40% earned an associate degree or certificate and transferred to a four-year institution.
