Pueblo -- Colorado State University-Pueblo has been awarded nearly $600,000 to develop a model program that provides academic services for students in rural communities. The Department of Education awarded $562,500 to CSU-Pueblo over the next three years for a TRIO One-Stop Project for Rural Communities, which provides TRIO practices and concepts to small community colleges in rural areas.

In partnership with the Department of Education, Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan High School, Wiggins High School, and Brush High School, CSU-Pueblo will facilitate a one-stop service hub for a mini-student support services, a mini-Upward Bound, and a mini-Educational Opportunity Center. Services will be based on best practices from all three TRIO grant programs to provide academic preparation, postsecondary access and retention interventions to eligible students--all with a focus on graduation from a postsecondary institution. The grant targets institutions with no TRIO Programs on site.

"We are most pleased to be working with Morgan Community College and the area high schools on this project," said Provost Barbara Montgomery. "This grant symbolizes CSU-Pueblo's central commitments to supporting student achievement and partnering with community colleges to increase student access to higher education."

According to grant co-authors Patricia A. Hunter, Ed. D., Director, Student Support Services and Terry K. Lingle, Director MASS GEAR UP, the program seeks to increase the number of traditional students earning their high school diplomas and entering higher education and provide access to higher education for nontraditional students through postsecondary information, admissions and financial aid assistance as well as academic support to enhance student postsecondary success.

The TRIO One-Stop Project information will be disseminated to all high schools in the seven-county service area in addition to regularly scheduled presentations, workshops, and seminars on access to higher education and supportive services. The TRIO One-Stop Project then will identify and select high school students, community college students, and nontraditional
students who need assistance to access higher education and will provide a full range of services to support their access, retention, graduation and/or transfer to postsecondary education including remedial instruction, one-to-one tutoring, group tutoring, mentoring, supplemental instruction, financial and application loan default resolution, scholarship searches, workshops and seminars. Participants will be will be tracked from high school through postsecondary graduation to determine the program's success.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.