The program formerly known as TRIO-Student Support Services will not be on campus for the 2021-2022 academic school year and the foreseeable future. TRIO has been on the University of Central Missouri’s campus for over 40 years through a government-issued grant that could be renewed every five years. This year, however, UCM did not receive approval for the grant.

  TRIO offered support to approximately 200 undergraduate students on campus, including first-generation college students, students needing financial aid information, students looking to apply for jobs and internships and students who needed general guidance through college.

  “I was upset when TRIO was removed, because my advisor really helped me figure out what I was doing,” junior social work major Kasey Hinkebein said. “I’m a first-generation college student and had no idea what was going on, but my advisor would help me with literally anything that I needed.”

  Randall Langston, executive vice provost for enrollment engagement, said that while TRIO won’t meet as a student organization, services provided by TRIO will be displaced throughout organizations on campus. 

  “We decided to reinvest … all the major services already being provided by TRIO, and we decided to augment that with additional funding going to the Success Advising Center and hiring additional student mentors who are going to work with our students,” Langston said.

  Andrew Jinkens, interim manager of academic support services, agreed that the Success Advising Center will play a large role in replacing services previously offered by TRIO.

  Jinkens said the Learning Commons, located in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, will support former TRIO students as well.

  “I always hope to see more students in the Learning Commons, of course,” Jinkens said. “We seek to be that kind of space on campus where students can come not only for academic support, but for university support. We are more than happy to be that space.”

  Langston said the university plans to reapply for the grant in the future, but that will not be for roughly four more years.

  “We are very deeply committed to our students who were previously in TRIO,” Langston said. “We feel that TRIO is a tremendous program, and we want to continue to provide that support for our students as they continue through their educational journey at UCM.”