St. Scholastica fears future of federal funding for TRIO

The College of St. Scholastica is one of only 47 post-secondary institutions nationwide with at least five federally funded TRIO programs on campus. TRIO, a group of outreach and student services programs, was established to assist students who are low-income, first-generation or disabled in accessing higher education. Leaders of the College’s TRIO programs reflected with the Duluth News Tribune on the profound impact of their programs amidst jeopardized funding.

“It’s really unique to have five TRIO programs at one institution, in particular, a private institution,” said Troy Abfalter, director of the TRIO McNair Scholars program. “So this is something that’s really special to our region and unique and makes a big impact in how we can address some of those challenges that our communities face.”

TRIO Talent Search

Director of TRIO Talent Search Kristen Walker emphasized the program’s mission: “We identify highly motivated middle and high school students who are looking to get help to navigate both middle and high school successfully, and then on to any post-secondary education that they choose.” Walker and her staff serve over 560 annually, connecting students with vital resources and communities across six schools. “We’re kind of the start of the pipeline.”

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science programs

St. Scholastica’s Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science programs connect with nearly 140 students across more than 10 high schools in the Twin Ports region. “It’s a lot of one-on-one, so we really get to know the students and figure out their barriers that prevent them from going to college and set them up for success,” noted Director Amy Galarowicz. Both programs offer high school students a variety of educational opportunities, including college visits and community service projects.

TRIO Student Support Services and McNair Scholars program

Once students enter college, Student Support Services (SSS) and the McNair Scholars program provide further support. SSS offers mentorship, programming and services to eligible students, whereas the McNair Scholars program assists those who are preparing for graduate school and advanced career opportunities. Matt Hoeschen, director of SSS, highlighted the critical role of TRIO on campus: “There’s tons of examples of just students who have reported that the program made the difference between them leaving that semester or staying.”

Advocating for continued support

“That funding supports salaries of staff, experiences that our students have and outreach at our various schools,” recognized President Dr. Barbara McDonald of the uncertainty surrounding the federal funding. “There will be an impact if they’re not fully funded moving forward.”

As the local leaders advocate for continued support, they also emphasize the importance of these programs in educational access and success for students in the Twin Ports. “An educated workforce is really important to meet our regional needs, health care, education, business, science, engineering — all these things that move us forward,” said Abfalter. “Having this pathway to reach out to more and more students, to create these options for them to go to college to fill these jobs is going to be really important in terms of growing our own talents and success for the region.”