The Future of TRIO
in the Age of “Innovation”
Heather Valentine, Vice President for Public Policy
Kimberly Jones, Director of Congressional Affairs
September 10, 2009
TRIO Appropriations
Recent Funding History

FY 2006 – FY 2008
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Level Funding at $828.2 million
FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act

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$19.9 million increase (+ recovered money)
$848.1 million total appropriation
Increase funded one-time financial aid grants
for SSS students (Maximum amount =
$20,650)
 39 Additional Programs – VUB (7), UBMS (16),
and McNair (16)

What Does This Mean?
Between FY 2005 and FY 2009, TRIO Lost:
$77.7 million in funding
34,396 students
Approximately 4% Loss of Existing
Programs & Students
FY 2010

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President Obama = Level Funding
House Appropriations Committee =
$20 million increase
Senate Appropriations Committee =
Level Funding
FY 2010 Outlook

Worst Case Scenario
 $10 million “increase”
 SSS Competition Results in Loss of:
84 Current Programs
17,550 Current Students
Approximately 8% Loss of Existing
Students and Programs
CAVEAT
The Department of Education has
approximately $20 million available that is
committed for 2009-2010, but not
committed thereafter. These funds could be
allocated to the SSS competition.
What’s the Solution?

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has
committed to offering an amendment to
add $50 million to TRIO when the
appropriations bill goes to the floor (if the
co-sponsors can agree on an “off-set”)
Potential Co-Sponsors
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
FY 2010 Outlook
(cont.)

Best Case Scenario
 $50 million amendment in Senate
 $35 million increase overall
 Sufficient funding to prevent loss of
most current SSS grantees and award
new grants
What YOU Need To Do!



We need EVERY Senator to support this
amendment!
Act immediately
All of the TRIO community must be activated:

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Parents
Alumni
Students
Community Leaders
Institutional Leaders & Faculty
TRIO Staff
“But there’s no money!”
There IS Money!

House Appropriations Committee

Teacher Incentive Fund = $446 million ($349
million above FY 2009)


Adult Basic Literary Education State Grants =
$628 million ($74 million above FY 2009)
Discretionary Pell Grant Funding = $17.8
billion ($495 million above FY 2009)
There IS Money!

Senate Appropriations Committee

School Construction Program = $700 million

Teacher Incentive Fund = $300 million ($203



(new program for FY 2010)
million above FY 2009)
Individuals with Disabilities (IDEA) = $12.6
billion ($1.1 billion above FY 2009)
Adult Basic Literary Education State Grants =
$628 million ($74 million above FY 2009)
Discretionary Pell Grant Funding = $17.5
billion ($207 million above FY 2009)
Federal Priorities
In just a single generation, America has fallen
from second place to eleventh place in the
portion of students completing college. That is
unfortunate but it is by no means irreversible....
I [call] on Americans to commit to at least
one year or more of higher education or
career training, with the goal of having the
highest proportion of college graduates in
the world by the year 2020.
President Barack Obama
Washington, DC
March 10, 2009
Budget Reconciliation
What is Budget Reconciliation?


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Legislative vehicle that affects funding for
mandatory programs (e.g., taxes, Social
Security, Medicaid, etc.)
Governs student loans (which are
mandatory)
Last used by Congress in 2007
2007 Budget Reconciliation
College Cost Reduction
and Access Act
Amendment by
Congressman Robert
“Bobby” Scott (D-VA)
 Provided $57 million to
fund 187 Upward
Bound projects

2009 Budget Reconciliation

TRIO Proposal
Part I
Provide “incentive grants” to current SSS
host institutions that show improvement in
retention, transfer, and graduation rates
for Pell Grant students
2009 Budget Reconciliation

TRIO Proposal
Part II
Fund new SSS programs

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Institutions with at least 1,000 Pell Grant recipients
Institutions at which Pell Grant recipients comprise at
least 40% of undergraduate enrollment
Minority-Serving Institutions
Glass Half Full
“Simply put, the Obama administration’s definition of
student aid is far too narrow. What is desperately needed
instead is a more comprehensive view of student aid that
reflects the recognition that low-income and firstgeneration students face multiple barriers - class, cultural,
informational, academic, and social - to postsecondary
education, and not just a lack of funds. Merely providing
financial resources through mechanisms like the Pell Grant
alone will not solve the problem of getting first-generation
and low-income students through college.”
- Arnold Mitchem
Inside Higher Ed
June 1, 2009
TRIO Proposal

Why SSS?
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Most of the money saved in the budget
reconciliation bill is going to Pell Grants.
The services provided by SSS ensures that
Pell Grants are well-spent and result in
transfer and graduation.
SSS addresses the goal of the Obama
Administration to make America first in the
world for postsecondary completion.
TRIO Proposal

Impact on TRIO?

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Makes TRIO central to institutional plans to
retain and graduate students.
Major expansion in TRIO presence.
Increases size of current programs and
number of students served.
Questions and Answers