January, 2001

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

For submission to the WESTOP Board of Director's January 19, 2001.
Fiesta Inn Conference Center
Tempe, AZ

WESTOP ACTION ITEMS

The WESTOP region presented several action items to the COE Board of Director's on December 16, 2000.

1) GEAR-UP Scholarship Funds: Concern was expressed by WESTOP about the "banking" of GEAR-UP scholarship funds which could be used on behalf of TRIO participants. The question was presented to Congressman Chaka Fattah (in attendance at the December COE Board meeting), co-author of GEAR-UP legislation. He was unaware of this development and wants the two programs to work cooperatively. He is referring this issue to his aides for investigation. The COE staff and most other regions were also unaware of this development and will put it on their agendas.

2) USDA Summer Food Service Program: An expedited process for USDA Summer Food Service programs was highlighted and referred as New Business to the COE Board. This expedited process would mean automatic acceptance for all TRIO programs, very little paperwork, and eligibility of TRIO participants in the USDA-SFSP regardless of income. This is already being done by the National Youth Sports Program, why not TRIO? The Board Chair referred this matter to Dr. Mitchem and he assigned Maureen Hoyler to investigate the issue.

3) Student Loan Forgiveness: Dr. Belle is not able to pursue this issue as a government employee. The SAEOPP and WESTOP regions both submitted this issue to the COE Board for action. The issue was placed under New Business and referred by the Board Chair to Dr. Mitchem for investigation and future action. Dr. Mitchem seemed ready and willing to pursue this issue.

4) TRIO Access to FAFSA Data: The WESTOP region presented this issue as an action item and it was referred to New Business. The Board Chair referred this issue to the Financial Aid Task Force for investigation and action. This access would make it possible for TRIO programs to track former participants by their Social Security Number. If the student is requesting financial aid anywhere in the U.S., Territories, possessions, or Compact nations, we can find out where they are attending school. It is hoped that we may determine more data than location, particularly any academic status data collected by the FAFSA. Ideally, although not likely, a TRIO check box could be developed to flag these students and have the data on former TRIO participants automatically sent to the TRIO office.

5) TS/EOC Mathematica Study: Concern was expressed by WESTOP over the impending Mathematica Report on Talent Search and EOC programs. The COE staff is aware of this concern and the process is being monitored. The WESTOP delegation asked that the COE staff inform the constituency about this monitoring so as to alleviate unnecessary worry and provide assurances as to what is being done. The Board Chair referred this issue to the TRIO National Clearinghouse for action.

FY 2001 APPROPRIATIONS

Congress returned to work the week of December 5th. Prior to this both the House and Senate had agreed to a $115 million increase for TRIO. However, since the election outcome, many variables came into play based on the politics of the newly won House and Senate seats (and also the fact that they came out $300 million over budget and were unwilling to cut any "pork" projects). The House and Senate wanted to keep TRIO at a $115 million increase but the White House would not cut GEAR-UP without an equal cut to TRIO (cuts refer to proposed increases only). The White House pushed very hard for GEAR-UP in the last hours of negotiation. Mr. Harkins was caught off-guard; Reed and Porter still supported the $115 million increase for TRIO. An Action Alert from the COE office did go out to the TRIO community to try and encourage Congress to complete the appropriations process while we had the $115 million on the table. The final deal was cut reportedly between 2:00 and 3:00 am just before signing which gave us no time for a counter-attack.

On Dec. 15th it was announced that $30 million had been taken away from TRIO as a bargaining chip to create a parity with GEAR-UP. The final increase for TRIO will be $85 million, bringing our FY01 TRIO appropriation to $730 million ($35 million of this is slated for College Completion Challenge Grants for Student Support Services).

The Pell Grant maximum was raised to $3,750 as of December 15, 2000.

COLLEGE COMPLETION CHALLENGE GRANTS

Authorizing language, which was added to HR 5656 under Title III Section 317 has provided (signed on 12-21-00) the ability to administer the CCCG funds through Student Support Services projects. SSS projects will have to work closely with the Financial Aid offices to make sure this works smoothly with the matching funds requirement. Remember that certain institutions are exempt from the matching funds requirement. It will take the Department some time to set up these funds for distribution; you should receive further information in late January.

This authorization is only good for one year because it is tied to an appropriations bill. However, Senator Kennedy is already planning a permanent solution. The attempt to tie this authorization to technical amendments of the Higher Education Act passed in the House but failed in the Senate. The COE office will be working in conjunction with Senator Kennedy on permanent legislation authorizing SSS projects to administer direct aid to participants. This will also be an issue on the table during the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

As of January 20, 2001 Dr. Fritchler, Dr. Prieto and Secretary Riley will be leaving the Department as they are all political appointees. Most likely, Dr. Belle will be asked to temporarily assume the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary until the President appoints new leadership. Hubert Davis will take over as acting Director of TRIO. This should not create any undo delays in TRIO operations as Hubert Davis is highly involved in all aspects of TRIO on a daily basis and is experienced in TRIO operations at the federal level.

McNair, Talent Search, and EOC reports are in draft form. These reports compile all of the Annual Performance Reports and attempt to show national trends and levels of success for all projects. The reports should be available sometime this year. The Student Support Services report shows that the greatest gains are in first year services as related to GPA and credits earned. Data from the SSS report will be used to help determine where additional funding should be targeted, as will all the reports from the various TRIO programs.

My interpretation is to expect SSS to have an infusion of funding to assist and expand first year services. Also, I would eventually expect to see a greater emphasis on some type of pre-SSS summer program or summer capstone experience to further enhance the success of first year services.

The new Upward Bound Performance Report (to be used next fall/winter) is now on the Department's website. Information sessions sponsored by the Department are being built into many of the Department funded training grants. Call any of the Training Grant offices for details (contact information can be found on the WESTOP website, click "Important Links").

The Upward Bound Technology Supplements were requested and awarded for the following needs:

Upward Bound:	13% Software
	77% Hardware
	8.7% Training
	1.0% Indirect *
Math/Science:	14% Software
	75.7% Hardware
	8.8% Training
	1.5% Indirect *

* Why this isn't closer to 8%, I don't know. I think some Director's are going to be surprised when 8% is eventually taken out as they begin to expend funds. It looks like most projects did not account for Indirect in their submitted budgets.

Dr. Belle stated that very soon all grant applications will be electronically submitted. An advisory group is being formed and will meet early in 2001 to debate technical and practical issues of widespread electronic submission and the reading process.

The Inspector General just completed an audit of TRIO programs and recommended improvement in the following areas:

1) TRIO funding being used to pay salaries of non-TRIO staff
2) Non-documentation of participant eligibility status
3) Non-documentation of project expenses
4) Infrequency of site visits

In order to respond to these issues a new system of site visitation will need to be developed. This may include outsourcing site visit personnel. This may take some time to develop and no other details are available at this time. However, if any of the first three situations sound familiar, better to start now on resolving these issues. If you are experiencing the first situation and your institution won't listen, contact me. I will refer your situation to the appropriate individual who can assist in making your institution comply.

Trivia: In FY99 the TRIO office awarded 5,713 grants including the UB Initiative Grants, Technology Grants, Training Grants, and Dissemination Projects.

TALENT SEARCH / EOC

The new application packet is complete and has been sent to the OMB for approval. The regulations should be relatively unchanged, but don't take my word for it. Be sure to read every line of the RFP carefully for minor changes. Dr. Belle did stress two important points for this next competition: 1) The Narrative Section page limit will be strictly enforced at 100 pages. Any proposal exceeding this amount will be thrown out and not read; 2) Applicants must show how technology will be infused into the project and how the technology gap (between high & low income groups, urban & rural groups, etc.) will be addressed.

NEW CONGRESS

The 107th Congress will have 221 Republicans, 212 Democrats and 2 independents. The Senate will be split 50-50. Henry Bonilla (R-TX) won re-election and has expressed an interest in becoming the Chairman of the House Labor-Health & Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee. As you may remember Mr. Bonilla is a former Talent Search participant and should be of great help in appropriations battles for FY02.

Former WESTOP Treasurer, Hilda Solis, will take over the 31st Congressional District seat in California. We are looking forward to good support from Ms. Solis in the area of TRIO and other Educational Opportunity legislation. Efforts are underway to establish a working relationship with her and the office staff by our Education & Legislation Committee as well as the Council staff.

Jay Dickey (R-AR), an outspoken supporter of TRIO, has lost his seat in Congress with 49% of the vote. It now becomes even more important to find new champions for TRIO. Policy Seminar 2001 becomes very important in connecting with your representatives and gaining critical support for TRIO.

For WESTOP members residing in the 27th District of California, Adam Schiff, a Democrat, with 52% of the vote, has replaced James Rogan. In the 36th District Democrat Jane Harman with 48% of the vote has replaced Steven Kuykendall. In the 49th District Democrat Susan Davis with 50% of the vote has replaced Brian Bilbray. Joe Baca has replaced the 42nd District's George Brown Jr. due to death in office, both Democrats. In the 15th District Democrat Mike Honda succeeds Tom Campbell who ran for the Senate. In the 48th District Republican Darrell Issa succeeds Ron Packard who retired.

In Arizona's 1st District, Matt Salmon has retired and made good on his term limit pledge. Republican Jeff Flake replaces him.

In Nevada, moderate Republican John Ensign won the Senate seat vacated by Democrat Richard Bryan.

FY2001 ALLOCATIONS

Appearing the in the House Report language for FY01 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations is the following statement:

"The Committee urges the Department (of Education) to use a funding strategy in making awards under TRIO that balances the need to fund a larger number of grantees with the need for projects to improve the quality of student services and expand to serve all eligible students."

In addition, the Council's "Quality Initiative" continues to stress the following three points: 1) All TRIO projects should receive the same COLA (Cost of Living Allowance); 2) All TRIO programs should receive increases above and beyond COLA increases; and 3) supplements above the COLA should address such needs as technology, Upward Bound work-study component, intensified services, and increasing the number of participants currently funded projects serve.

FY2000 UPWARD BOUND INITIATIVE

395 of the 727 eligible Upward Bound projects applied for supplemental funding under the Expansion Initiative. 184 projects received grants totaling $14.6 million serving an additional 3,465 students. Successful applicants were those who scored a 97.67 or higher on their 1998 proposals.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES COMPETITION

Approximately 1,200 applications were received. Proposals were read during the weeks of November 5, November 12 and December 3. According to Dr. Belle, an SSS Advisory Group will be established to help determine needs and allocation strategies for FY01 funding.

TRIO TECHNOLOGY REPORTS

Compiled data from the various technology surveys will be published this year. First will be Upward Bound in January. Then EOC, McNair, SSS and Talent Search throughout the year. Eventual survey returns were around 70% in each program.

FAIRSHARE

As of December 7, 2000 WESTOP's Fairshare contribution was at 50%. We are more than half way through our Fairshare year. Please be sure to check that your Institutional Membership is paid, as well as Equality Subscription packages. If you want to support legislative efforts on behalf of TRIO, your personal contribution is always welcome. Contact Sam Cortez with any questions you may have at scortez@calpoly.edu.

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS TELECONFERENCE

A teleconference is being planned entitled "Partnerships, Prior Experience, and Performance Reports" and will be conducted April 2nd or 3rd, 2001. Chapters can downlink this teleconference at no charge. Interested parties should contact Al Phillips at alvin@hqcoe.org or 202-347-7430.

NEXT COE BOARD MEETING

The next COE National Board meeting will be held at Incline Village, NV on May 17-19, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency. It has been some time since WESTOP has hosted a national Board meeting. The Board and Committee meetings are open, if you care to attend you are most welcome. A tentative agenda for the various meetings should be available by April 1, 2001.

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