January, 2002

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

WESTOP Board of Directors Meeting
January 11-12, 2002
Four Points Hotel
Phoenix, Arizona

NATIONAL FRONT

Factors of Importance with Potential Impact on TRIO:
The war on Terrorism;
The upcoming Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the future of Gear Up;
The 2002 Congressional elections;
FY2002 Appropriations;
Recent appointments within the U.S. Department of Education; and
The College Completion Grants;

A. The war on terrorism

The 30+ year trend to minimize the role and importance of the federal government was reversed as a result of the events of September 11, 2001. It is clear that only the departments and agencies of the federal government can defend and protect the long-term interests of USA citizens with respect to education as well as "homeland security". To accomplish these and other national goals requires a long-term investment. Hence, COE does not anticipate a diversion of funds from the domestic goals to fund the fight against terrorism. Dr. Mitchem states, "The United States has distinguished itself from its adversaries on the basis of its ability to be inclusive and tolerant. TRIO is a signature program for American inclusiveness and tolerance"

B. Reauthorization

Congress will most likely begin hearing in preparation for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 soon following the installation of the newly elected congress, around January 2003. COE, along with other major higher education associations, is well under way developing positions to advance during the reauthorization process. This positioning (posturing) includes the development of strategic alliances and shaping the policy context in which COE will operate. The following are policy issues regarding TRIO for the upcoming Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965: 1) Block Grants; 2) Prior Experience; 3) Multiple Applications from One Institution; 4) Funding Authorization Levels; 5) Adjusting Minimum Grant Funding Levels; 6) Loan Forgiveness for TRIO Personnel; 7)Providing TRIO Directors the Option to look at Current Year Family Income to Determine Eligibility; 8) Increasing Pell maximum to $4000, and; 9) the Inclusion of GEAR-UP as a Sixth TRIO Program.

C. 2002 Congressional Elections

As you may know, little or no action reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which also includes federal financial aid, will take place until elected members of congress are sworn in January 0f 2003. We must keep in mind that the year 2002 is a congressional election year for the full House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Because HEA is so critical to the advancement and security of the country as well as higher education institutions, it will be completed, hopefully, in a timely manner. WESTOP will play a critical role in the process because of the following key legislators: Howard (Buck) McKean (CA), Patsy Mink (HI), Hilda Solis (CA), George Miller (CA) and Harry Reid (NV). As Dr. Connie Baker has already expressed, via the WESTOP listserv, attendance at the March 17-19, 2002, COE Policy Seminar is critical. Also, meeting with legislators in their home districts must precede the efforts in Washington, DC.

D. FY2002 Appropriations

The House and Senate have each approved their respective fiscal year 2002 Labor-HHS-Education spending bills. House bill H.R. 3061 proposes funding TRIO at $800 million, which is an increase of $70 million over FY2001 funding (a 9.5% increase). Senate bill S. 1536 would fund TRIO at $805 million, which is an increase of $75 million over the FY2001 appropriation (a 10.3% increase). Both bills exceed the $50 million increase proposed by President Bush. Both Senators Harkins (D-Iowa) and Specter (R-Pennsylvania) committed to advance the $75 million for TRIO in Conference Committee. In all likelihood, COE estimates the FY2002 TRIO appropriation will be $801 million.

E. Recent U.S. Department of Education Appointments

Sally Stroup was nominated by President Bush to be the next Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, with congressional confirmation expected in the near future. Ms. Stroup was instrumental in getting authorizing language attached to the FY2001 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill that allowed TRIO SSS directors to provide direct grant aid (College Enhancement Initiative Grants) to students. Also, the Bush has put forward the appointment of Wilbert Bryant as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Higher Education Programs, the number two higher education position in the U.S. Department of Education.

F. College Enhancement Initiative (formerly the College Completion Challenge Grant)

There was overwhelming interest in the College Enhancement Initiative Program, as indicated by the number of institutions which applied for the grants. 775 of a possible 942 institutions applied, undeterred by the matching funds requirement. This suggests a widespread interest in higher education to meet the needs of the lowest income students and, thereby, provide these student a realistic opportunity not only to enter but graduate with a baccalaureate degree. Approximately, 25,000 SSS student are now receiving this grant to fill unmet need or reduce the burden of loans

COE APPROVED INCREASE IN COE INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP DUES

On December 15, 2001, the COE Board of Directors approved the proposal to increase COE Institutional Membership Dues, as presented by the COE Finance Committee. The vote was 27 in favor of the increased Institutional Membership, 5 against and 2 abstentions. Only the three WESTOP Presidents and 2 AEEE Presidents votes against the increase. No other options were given consideration and additional information provided in the Budget and Finance Committee report, although specifying need, did not clarification how the additional funds would be used. Beginning with the next COE budget year, institutions with zero or one TRIO Program will pay $1,700 membership per year (a $400 increase over current membership dues). Institutions with two TRIO Programs will pay $1,900 per year, with a $200 incremental increase in dues for each additional TRIO Program sponsored by the institution. The WESTOP COE Fundraising Chair will likely be able to provide a more accurate assessment concerning the impact this decision will have on WESTOP "fair share", but I estimate an increase in excess of $60,000.

We, the presidents, would like the WESTOP membership and Board of Directors to accept our sincere thanks for providing a clear sense of direction with respects to the Institutional Membership issue. Though not surprised by the final outcome, after speaking to over half the regional presidents, I thought the vote would have been somewhat less one-sided.

OTHER POINTS of INTEREST

New Logos to Unite TRIO: By now every TRIO program has received copies of the TRIO graphics, which are intended to associate each specific program with the TRIO name.

The COE, Center for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, under the direction of Dr. Scott Swail, will soon be renamed the Claiborne Pell Center for the Study of Opportunity in Education.

All ten regions met 2000-2001 Fair Share.

A new TRIO partnership has been forged with Petersons. Petersons.com, a leading internet educational research site with over 250,000 pages of educational information, is a leading print publisher of educational reference material. Via the TRIO partnership, Peterson's will provide TRIO Director and target schools a package of tools consisting of a customizable web-based resource center, online test prep materials and bundles of targeted reference publications.
Proposed Restructuring of COE Institutional Membership Dues

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