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July 29, 2011
Shelly Siegel, North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) Director of TRIO Programs, and Janet Tauer, Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC’s) Director of the Educational Opportunity Center/TRIO, attended the White House Community Leaders Briefing Series on July 22nd. Having been strong advocates for many years on behalf of citizens who are either low-income, first-generation (where neither parent has a bachelor’s degree), both Siegel and Tauer were specifically requested by the Council for Opportunity in Education to represent Federal TRIO programs across the country.
“It was an honor to be asked by the Council to be spokespersons on behalf of TRIO. It’s important to remind the administration and congressional leaders that TRIO works and that support is needed on every level – now more than ever before!”
Although TRIO programs have a proven track record for student access, retention, and completion from middle school all the way through the post-baccalaureate level, they have been flat funded for the past eight years. In April 2011, they suffered another three percent cut which means another 40,000 students nationwide who qualify for TRIO services will go without beginning fall 2011.
This newly created briefing series hosted by the Office of Public Engagement provided an opportunity for grassroots community leaders and White House officials to exchange dialog about the nation’s successes and challenges in education. In a group of about 50 others from various organizations, Siegel and Tauer first met with U.S. Department of Education officials. Later, a larger group of about 100 met with White House officials. In both meetings, Siegel and Tauer were able to voice their concerns about the future of education and asked that President Obama and the administration adhere to their commitment to protect TRIO programs.
Pictured left to right: Janet Tauer and Shelly Siegel
The Council for Opportunity in Education is a nonprofit organization, established in 1981, dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, veterans, and students with disabilities throughout the United States. The Council supports colleges, universities, and agencies that host TRIO programs and serves to support TRIO in its efforts to follow through with its mission.
For more information about NHCC’s TRIO programs, visit www.nhcc.edu/sss or www.nhcc.edu/ub. |