Bush proposal threatens UA programs
Yvette Scorse, Assistant News Editor
Issue date: 2/14/05 Section: News
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If the programs are cut, many students will not have the opportunity to reach their academic, social and economic potentials, Ervin said.
"It will be completely devastating," she said.
If Pre-College Programs is eliminated, "it will be closing a door to thousands of students," Smith said.
In addition to serving young students, TRIO Programs serve veterans in the Veteran's Upward Bound program. On the UA campus alone, 120 veterans use this program after being on active duty, Ervin said.
"That would be a tragic disservice to those students to deny them the opportunities and benefits they get from the service," she said.
TRIO Programs have been created on 2,700 campuses nationwide and serve a total of 873,000 students. The programs were created under Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.
Money for TRIO Programs like Upward Bound has steadily increased from $174.9 million in 1985 to $832.6 million in 2004, according to the TRIO Programs Web site.
Many of the students in pre-college programs go on to college with a graduation rate of 75 percent in six years. Of all the freshmen who entered the UA in 1998, 52.9 percent graduated in six years, according to institutional research from the UA.
The success in graduation rates "reflects these programs nationwide," Erwin said. "We believe in what we're doing and have figures to back up our success."
The success rates of TRIO programs at the UA and nationwide have motivated the staff of Pre-College Programs at the UA to take action and lobby against the budget proposal.
Congress will probably vote on the proposal in late July or August, Sterling said, which will make for a "long fight."
Sterling said the Bush administration talks about leaving no child behind, but, "we're going to be leaving all these children behind if we're no longer providing services for them," she said.
Because the program is federally funded, the staff cannot lobby during business hours. The "team" of staff members has already contributed their time and money in an effort to prevent the passing of the education cuts.
Ervin and Sterling will go to a seminar in Washington along with four alumni of the programs. The two directors and other staff members are also encouraging parents, UA officials, partner schools, students and child advocacy agencies to write to senators and congressmen.
"We're trying to do our part to keep these programs because we're passionate, and we believe in these students and believe in opportunity," Ervin said. The programs have always had bipartisan support, she said.
"Shutting down the programs," Smith said, "would be like cutting the legs out from under these students."
"It will be completely devastating," she said.
If Pre-College Programs is eliminated, "it will be closing a door to thousands of students," Smith said.
In addition to serving young students, TRIO Programs serve veterans in the Veteran's Upward Bound program. On the UA campus alone, 120 veterans use this program after being on active duty, Ervin said.
"That would be a tragic disservice to those students to deny them the opportunities and benefits they get from the service," she said.
TRIO Programs have been created on 2,700 campuses nationwide and serve a total of 873,000 students. The programs were created under Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.
Money for TRIO Programs like Upward Bound has steadily increased from $174.9 million in 1985 to $832.6 million in 2004, according to the TRIO Programs Web site.
Many of the students in pre-college programs go on to college with a graduation rate of 75 percent in six years. Of all the freshmen who entered the UA in 1998, 52.9 percent graduated in six years, according to institutional research from the UA.
The success in graduation rates "reflects these programs nationwide," Erwin said. "We believe in what we're doing and have figures to back up our success."
The success rates of TRIO programs at the UA and nationwide have motivated the staff of Pre-College Programs at the UA to take action and lobby against the budget proposal.
Congress will probably vote on the proposal in late July or August, Sterling said, which will make for a "long fight."
Sterling said the Bush administration talks about leaving no child behind, but, "we're going to be leaving all these children behind if we're no longer providing services for them," she said.
Because the program is federally funded, the staff cannot lobby during business hours. The "team" of staff members has already contributed their time and money in an effort to prevent the passing of the education cuts.
Ervin and Sterling will go to a seminar in Washington along with four alumni of the programs. The two directors and other staff members are also encouraging parents, UA officials, partner schools, students and child advocacy agencies to write to senators and congressmen.
"We're trying to do our part to keep these programs because we're passionate, and we believe in these students and believe in opportunity," Ervin said. The programs have always had bipartisan support, she said.
"Shutting down the programs," Smith said, "would be like cutting the legs out from under these students."
