Danny Bittker
Since the mid 1970's the ResourceCenter for Persons with Disabilities has earned an important status as one ofonly a few U.S. Department of Education TRIO program grant recipients in Michigan. The TRIO Programs are federal outreach andstudent services programs designed to identify and provide services forindividuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The 2010 recipients of the TRIO grant were recently announced and theMichigan State RCPD and Office of Supportive Services were awarded funding forthe grant cycle of 2010-2015. For thenext five years and well into the future the RCPD and OSS will continue thework of preparing dynamic student leaders, and innovative contributors to goout into the world and effect real change.
At Michigan State, the TRIO grantprovides important funding that enhances the quantity and quality of servicesavailable to students with disabilities at MSU. \While the grant targets several areas, the overarching goal is toprovide enhanced levels of service, follow-up and guidance that strengthenstudent achievement and graduation rates, while enhancing exposure to academicand career opportunities," RCPD Director Michael Hudson said. "Our status as a funded TRIO Program requiredan arduous application process in competition with hundreds if not thousands ofother university programs nationally. This year promised to be a challenging year to again earn this statusgiven national financial pressures and corresponding strong competition," hecontinued.
At Michigan State approximately 13percent of the population of RCPD students benefit from the TRIO Program'sfinancial assistance and the hope is that with this new grant more students canpartake as well. The TRIO Programprovides the RCPD with resources such as assistive technology, individualizedstaff time, and extended financial aid.
With this new TRIO Program grantthe RCPD will be able to continue its important work of preparing MichiganState students for their future successes.