Three Rivers College has been awarded more than $1.6 million over five years to fund the operation of a federal TRiO Student Support Services grant program on the Poplar Bluff campus. The grant begins on September 1, 2020.
While each five-year funding cycle begins a new program, the TRiO SSS Program has been on the Three Rivers campus for more than 30 years. TRC named the program “ACHIEVE” in 2012.
The national grant competition involved thousands of applications, and each submission was scored out of 125 points. Three Rivers received an overall score of 124.67, which included the full 15 prior experience points, for the proposal it submitted.
“This TRiO grant allows us to enhance and enrich the college experience for those students who need it most.” said Dr. Wesley Payne, President of Three Rivers College.
The goal of the ACHIEVE Program is to increase the retention and graduation rates of its 250 student participants through targeted efforts to help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.
ACHIEVE focuses on individual participant needs and uses a comprehensive approach purposely designed to build academic success, encourage student persistence, and inspire students toward graduation and transfer.
The program promotes self-advocacy and leadership and provides academic, cultural, and career-oriented events and activities to help students thrive. Students are encouraged to explore their personal talents and abilities to gain confidence, develop a vision for their lives, set high standards, and aspire to academic and personal excellence.
“College can be an overwhelming experience for many students, especially those who have significant barriers to overcome in order to complete their education,” said Todd Allen, Director of the ACHIEVE program at Three Rivers. “ACHIEVE empowers students to take control of their education path to help them succeed in college and beyond.”
The program provides a variety of services to motivate and assist students on their path to success such as peer mentoring, academic peer tutoring, intrusive advising, trips to four-year universities and cultural events, as well as financial literacy workshops. The ACHIEVE staff provides support and guidance to help TRC students stay on track and enable them to create their own success.
Both current and prospective Three Rivers students can qualify for the TRC ACHIEVE program if they are a U.S. citizen, have a need for academic support, and meet at least one of the following program criteria: have a financial need, are a first-generation college student, or are a student with a documented disability.
To be considered, students may complete an online program application available at trcc.edu/studentservices/achieve. Prospective students will be contacted to schedule an intake interview. The TRC ACHIEVE Program is located on the second floor of the Academic Resource Commons building on the TRC Poplar Bluff campus.
To learn more, contact the ACHIEVE staff at 573-840-9650 or achieve@trcc.edu.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
