May, 2002

PRESIDENTS REPORT

WESTOP Board of Directors Meeting
May 17-18, 2002
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada

2002 Policy Seminar

Almost 500 TRIO professionals attended the 2002 Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C. from March 17-19, 2002. TRIO participants visited 477 of the 535 Members of Congress. Commitments were received from 283 Members of Congress (47 Senators and 236 Representatives) to sign the bi-partisan letter to the Appropriators requesting a substantial increase in FY 2003 TRIO funding. This increase would increase the number of TRIO's students served from 6% to 10% over the next five years.

As of May 2, 2002 sixty Senators have signed onto the Lincoln/Collins letter to the Appropriators and over 200 members in the House of Representatives have signed the McKeon/Mink letter to the Appropriators.

The number of WESTOP participants was, unfortunately, lower than previous years due to budget constraints. Nevertheless, the WESTOP contingency was strong and accomplished much. Special thanks go to Connie Baker (2001-02 Chair, Legislation and Education Committee) and chapter Policy coordinators.

Staff Developments in the Department of Education

Prior to Policy Seminar and the 18th Annual Seminar on Relations with the Department of Education, Dr. Robert Belle, Director of Federal TRIO Programs, U.S. Department of Education, announced his resignation effective August 2002.

On March 15, 2002, the Senate confirmed Sally Stroup to be the Department of Education's Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. While on the Education and Workforce Committee, Ms. Stroup was a leading force in getting authorizing language attached to the FY2001 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill that allowed Student Support Service directors to provide direct grant aid to Student Support Services students.

The Department's FY2002 Spending Plan

The U.S. Department of Education plans on distributing the $72.5 million increase in the FY2002 TRIO appropriations as follows:

· $5.3 million (2.8%) to provide cost of living increases to SSS, UB, UB/MS, and
McNair projects

· $5 million to make additional SSS Supplemental grant aid awards;

· $6.2 million to provide more UB work-study stipends;

· $34.4 million to fund 80 new Talent Search awards and to increase the cost per
participant by 15 percent to $382;

· $14.9 million to fund 28 new EOC's and to increase the cost per participant by 21
percent to $245; and

· $6.7 million for technology supplements--$5,000 supplements to each of the SSS
projects that did not receive a supplement last year; $10,000 supplements to each of
the McNair projects and to the new EOCs and Talent Search projects.

Competitions (latest information)

Educational Opportunity Centers: Proposals have been read. The Department anticipates notifications in late spring or early summer.

Talent Search: Applications have been read. The Department anticipates notifications in early summer.

Upward Bound/McNair: The Department has not established dates for the Upward Bound or McNair proposal competitions. A sample proposal for McNair, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, or Veterans Upward Bound can be requested via e-mail to TRIO@ed.gov. The Department will offer at least 10 Technical Workshops in late July and early August. Locations have not been determined.

Proposal Writing Workshops

COE is sponsoring Proposal Writing workshops in:

Washington, D.C. June 24-25 McNair Forum
Crown Plaza, National Airport 25-26 McNair Workshop
27-28 Upward Bound Workshop

Chicago, Illinois July 24-25 Upward Bound Forum
Hyatt Regency, McCormick Place 25-26 Upward Bound Workshop

San Francisco, Ca Aug. 12-13 Upward Bound Workshop
Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf 14-15 McNair Works

Fiscal Year 2001 Distribution of TRIO Program Allocations as of February 1, 2002

Congress appropriated $730,000,000 for TRIO Programs in FY2001. TRIO Program allocations in FY2001 resulted in 2,436 grants that serve 747,917 TRIO students (hand out).

Expanding Performance Reporting Computer Labs

Eight additional "Performance Reporting and Tracking" computer labs have been scheduled.

May 17-18, 2002 Upward Bound
19-20 Upward Bound
19-20 McNair
21-22 Upward Bound

July 17-18 EOC and Talent Search
17-18 Student Support Services
19-20 Student Support Services
21-22 Student Support Services

Institutional Membership

COE's Institutional Membership Fee is now in effect and will begin when your next fee is due. The base dues (0-1TRIO Programs) will increase by $400 or 30%. Institutional Membership is an allowable cost.

Reauthorization

The COE Board of Directors, at its May board meeting, approved the Council's recommendations on Reauthorization with changes made in its original draft (handout).

Respectfully submitted by: Irvin L. Coin

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