TWU awarded $2.6 million in grants for disadvantaged students

August 17, 2020 — DENTON — Texas Woman’s University has been awarded $2.6 million in federal TRIO grants designed to provide services and support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing a college degree.

Texas Woman’s received two $261,888 TRIO Student Support Services Program grants. Over the five-year grant period, the university should receive a total of $2,618,880 to provide academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities to increase the students’ retention and graduation rates.

“TRIO programs have worked to provide equity to students who otherwise might be left out of higher education,” said Theresa Lindsay, PhD, director of Learning Success Programs in TWU’s Pioneer Center for Student Excellence. Lindsay and Joshua Adams, EdD, assistant provost for student success, are co-principal investigators for the grants.

“I worked for a TRIO program in Illinois and witnessed firsthand how wonderfully effective they are,” Lindsay said. “Dr. Adams and I wanted to bring TRIO to Texas Woman’s University and thereby provide additional intentional supports to eligible students.”

TRIO programs at Texas Woman’s will include the TRIO STEM program, which will serve 120 students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics; and the TRIO Classic program, serving 140 students in other majors. The programs, which are 100% federally funded, will begin recruiting students this fall. Students interested in learning more about the programs at TWU may contact Lindsay at tlindsay1@twu.edu or 940-898-4113.

Students in the programs will use existing TWU resources and will have TRIO-specific resources as well, Lindsay said, adding that TRIO staff will collaborate with a variety of campus services, including Disability Services for Students, Financial Aid, tutoring centers and Academic Advising. 

The programs will serve disadvantaged undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. During fall 2018 (the period used in the grant application), a total of 4,498 students — nearly half the undergraduate student population — were eligible for the program.

The programs will be staffed by people who would have been eligible for TRIO programs when they were undergraduates, Lindsay said, giving them something in common with the students they will serve.

Lindsay said she and Adams received “immense support” throughout the grant application process from TWU administrators, staff from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Office of Institutional Research and Data Management, as well as their colleagues in the Pioneer Center for Student Excellence.

“I am proud of the continued work of TWU to support our students with high quality academic programs and support services,” Adams said. “These grants will enable us to provide additional support to ensure our students are prepared for success in college and beyond.”

Through a grant competition, the U.S. Department of Education awards funds for TRIO Student Support Services projects to higher education institutions to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. For more information, visit www2.ed.gov and enter “Student Support Services” in the search field.

Page last updated 10:34 AM, August 21, 2020