August, 2002
PRESIDENTS REPORT
WESTOP Board of Directors Meeting
August 16-17, 2002
Sheraton Waikiki
Honolulu, HI
COE Bylaws Amendments (handout)
The WESTOP Board voted YES to support the following COE Bylaws Amendments:
· The fiscal year of the Council shall be from July 1 through June 30;
· The fall meeting shall be designated as the annual Meeting of the Corporation;
· An annual budget for the Council shall be adopted by the Board
of Directors at the
Spring Meeting.
1st Annual Conference
Final plans for the Council's 21st Annual Conference are being made. Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (CA-25) and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) are TRIO advocates and will share their insights on the critical issues surrounding Reauthorization. Gary Orfield, Co-director of the Harvard Civil Rights Project and Professor of Education and Social Policy, Harvard University, will also be speaking on the inequities in High Stakes Testing in Public Education.
The Newcomers Reception/Orientation will be held from 4:30-5:30 pm on Wednesday, September 11. Invitational letters will be sent from the Council office. Karen Scott, President of NEOA (New England Educational Opportunity Association) and I are serving as co-chairs of the reception.
On Tuesday evening, September 10, a special tribute to America titled "Overcoming Adversity: Building Strength with Diversity," will be held to celebrate the historical success of the TRIO Programs. The celebration will focus on why, more than ever, all students should be given an opportunity to succeed in college.conference2002
The discounted Conference Registration rate ends at the close of business on August 23. Interested persons can register online by accessing the special Conference Web Site (www.trioprograms.org/conference2002).
COE Board of Directors Meeting
The Fall 2002 COE Board of Directors meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2002 prior to the national conference. The meeting site will be the Washington Hilton & Towers, site of the conference. The Governmental Relations Committee Meeting will meet on Monday, September 9, 2002. This meeting will also be held in the Washington Hilton & Towers and is scheduled from 4-7 pm.
Senate Committee Completes Bill
On July 18, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved their version of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education 2003 Appropriations bill (S.2766). The bill would increase education discretionary funding by $2.8 billion more than the President's request. The bill, however, would only provide modest budget growth for several programs that are important to colleges and low-income Americans. For example, the bill would raise the maximum Pell Grant award by only $100, to $4,100 and would provide $30 million or 3.7 percent increase for TRIO. President Bush's budget request proposed level funding for TRIO and did not raise the maximum Pell Grant award. Unfortunately, the $30 million increase for TRIO will seriously limit the ability of TRIO Programs to expand services to additional needy students and fund additional projects. The Senate bill will particularly affect Upward Bound and McNair since these programs are in competition in FY2003.
The House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations put off action on its FY 2003 Appropriations bill until September. Typically, the House acts on appropriations bills before the Senate. It is possible that final action on the bill may not occur until after the November elections.
The Council plans to work with its TRIO Senate Champions to have an amendment offered on the Senate Floor to provide more funding for TRIO. COE is targeting a $200 million increase.
Upward Bound/McNair Competitions (latest information)
The tentative closing date for McNair proposals is early October, 2002. The closing date for Upward Bound Math and Science is proposed for November 22, 2002. The proposed closing date for regular Upward Bound and Veterans Upward Bound is December 13, 2002. Current grantees will receive Grant Applications by mail, which will state the final and official closing dates. Other interested applicants may request a copy of the application materials for either program by e-mailing the Department at OPE-TRIO@ed.gov
Upward Bound Technical Assistance Workshops
The U.S. Department of Education is finalizing the schedule for Upward Bound Technical Assistance Workshops. A special workshop session at the 21st Conference will focus on Upward Bound Pre-Application Technical Assistance. Department staff will delineate step-by-step, the selection criteria and regulations pertaining to the 2002 Upward Bound Competition. Issues and concerns regarding the Upward Bound work-study program will also be addressed.
Ms. Helen Soule, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, will discuss and "walk you through" the new electronic submissions process (e-grants) for TRIO Grants. The new process may be required for all future submission of TRIO grants.
Equality Article-July 2002 (handout)
The article appearing is an edited version (by Council staff) of the article submitted.
Regional Reports (handout)
A regional report for the COE Board meeting was submitted on Friday, August 9. The regional report for the October issue of Equality will be submitted by Friday, August 23.
Board Support Letters (handout)
Board Response to Dr. Mitchum (handout)
Respectfully submitted by: Irvin L. Coin, President, WESTOP
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