TRiO program provides resources, assistance
TRiO Student Support Services provides UTRGV students with a sense of community and offers a helping hand to those struggling to achieve academic and career goals.
The U.S. Education Department funds the program, which assists college students attempting their first bachelor’s degree.
Aaron Hinojosa, director of the program, said there are a wide range of services for students to take advantage of in the program, such as academic success tutors, peer coaches, student success assistants and a computer lab.
“We have some computers that students can use,” Hinojosa said. “We have spaces that people can either study or come in between classes and review their homework or review their assignments.”
Students do not need to go through an interview process to participate, he said.
“They submit an interest form and then we verify that, and then we have a meeting with them … about our services,” Hinojosa said. “We also review their need, a little like an academic assessment, [and] we also look at a little bit of their grades and see how we can best help each student.”
The director said the program’s main office and lab are on the Brownsville campus.
“Any student can apply here except that our services are only over here in person,” Hinojosa said. “We do offer some virtual opportunities, but I think the beauty is the in-person [assistance] because our lab is here, our physical resources are here.”
The program can serve around 275 participants each year.
To qualify for the program, participants must have low income, be a first-generation college student or have a disability.
Hinojosa said the program is for students who have a difficult time accessing education.
“A lot of times, we have students who [meet] all three of those [requirements],” he said.
Freshmen and sophomores are also offered Grant Aid depending on their activity in the program and if they are receiving the current Pell Grant, according to the program’s website.
Hinojosa said TRiO also has some graduate school material.
“Although we can’t offer full test prep into graduate school programs or professional programs, we do have some of those resources, like the latest test prep on GMAT, LSAT, GRE, MCAT [and] HESI,” he said.
Students can get advice from the program for career-related issues.
“Although we’re not career advisers, we talk about resume building,” Hinojosa said. “We talk about networking. We talk about interview skills and then we also do referrals.”
Veronica Paree, a peer coach assistant for the program and a former participant, said she informs and consults with students to get them help they need.
“If they’re struggling with mental health, they’ll sit down with me,” Paree said. “They kinda vent. I let them know I’m not a professional and then … I guide them to the Counseling Center. I encourage them to take care of themselves mentally [and] physically.”
Hinojosa said the program also includes occasional trips outside the university for students interested in graduate programs at other institutions.
“Those trips are also based on eligibility,” he said. “… We explore what universities are in the area [and] we schedule meetings with them.”
Gabriella Carreon, a criminal justice sophomore and participant, said the program gives her a feeling of companionship and unity.
“I am really enjoying the dynamic we have here and I already made some friends, long-committed friends, and I like how they can help me,” Carreon said.
Hinojosa said students who want to know more about the program can visit the program’s Instagram or visit the office, located in Music, Science and Learning Center Room 2.104.
“Come in, visit the office,” he said. “… Someone out here in the lab is going to help you. I think a lot of our students just want to help each other out because that’s our culture here in the program.”
