TRIO offers personalized advising and career services for qualified students

BY ELISE NIKOLIC

STAFF WRITER

Sixty-two percent of students at Anoka Ramsey Community College qualify for a free program that focuses on benefiting the students’ experience while at ARCC and after they leave the college. Although 62 percent of students qualify for the program known as TRIO, only 150 students are in the program. This semester there are 35 openings at the Coon Rapids campus.

There are three ways a student can be eligible for TRIO services. The first way a student can qualify is if they are a first-generation college student, defined at ARCC as neither parent having a four-year degree. Another way a student can qualify is if they are lower-income based on the federal poverty rate in Minnesota. The final way is if a student has a documented disability.

According to Thom Nordin, director of TRIO’s Student Support Services, a majority of students that qualify for TRIO are first-generation students.

Nordin strongly encourages students that believe they qualify to stop by the main TRIO office in SC122.

“We want students to inquire if they are eligible. It is a really good opportunity to get that one on one advising,” said Nordin.

Once TRIO determines a student qualifies for the program, they will attend an information session with a TRIO adviser and then be given an application for the program.

Students that are accepted into the program will immediately be set up with their own adviser. TRIO offers services such as tutoring, campus visits to four-year schools, student workshops, career exploration and choosing a major.

“Every student has different needs. Our services are based on what will benefit you the most,” said Nordin.

TRIO advisers are available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. TRIO has no deadline for applications and takes applications year-round.

“Our program provides one on one academic support to continue your success,” said Nordin.