Funding supports TRIO Student Support Services program
Oxnard College has received a $1,265,160 million grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Education to support its TRIO Student Support Services program. TRIO programs are especially important to Oxnard College because they support the large number of first-generation and low-income college students who require additional services to help them stay in school, graduate and transfer to four-year universities. Through the federal grant, the college will serve 140 students annually over five years.
Congressperson Julia Brownley’s office notified Oxnard College in early August that it had earned a perfect score on its application, beating out strong competition for the grant.
“TRIO programs are a vital way to ensure that low-income and first-generation students are able to pursue higher education,” said Brownley. “I have frequently heard from young people around Ventura County that the transformative academic support and counseling provided by these programs are the reason they were able to succeed in going to and completing college. I am so pleased that Oxnard College was successful in getting the funding they need to continue their TRIO programming.”
Federal TRIO programs provide outreach and student services to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Oxnard College offers the TRIO Upward Bound Program that supports first-generation and low-income high school students, helping them throughout their college career. It’s among eight grant programs at Oxnard College that fall under the TRIO Student Support Services umbrella. All TRIO programs assist people who are low-income, first-generation college students, or people with disabilities as they progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs.
“We are elated to have earned the U.S. Department of Education’s faith in our work,” shared Dr. Oscar Cobian, vice president of student development at the college. “These grant funds will help us build on Oxnard College’s impactful work in our community. The careers in our county that previously required only a high school diploma and a strong work ethic are increasingly scarce, which is why the support TRIO provides our students toward degree completion is so crucial. TRIO gets students on the right path to in-demand and good-paying careers.”
To learn more about Oxnard College’s TRIO SSS program, visit oxnardcollege.edu/departments/student-services/upward-bound or contact Katherine Pierce at [email protected] or 805-678-5203.
About Oxnard College
Oxnard College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District and annually serves more than 7,000 students. Founded in 1975, Oxnard College is fully accredited and has been ranked the 4th Best Community College in California. It is also a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Oxnard College’s signature programs include marine biology; culinary arts, restaurant management and hospitality management; auto technology and fire technology, among many other undergraduate study and career technical education programs. The Dream Resource Center is a valuable student and community resource. Oxnard Colleges’ dental hygiene program has a 100% pass rate on national and board exams. To learn more, visit oxnardcollege.edu and Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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