Many students will find necessary guidance and help through the new Student Support Services program, TRIO. While Mesa State offers other programs such as free tutoring in the TLC (Tutorial Learning Center), TRIO will be targeted to provide academic and mentoring support to first generation, low income or disabled students. In 1956, the Higher Education Act teamed up with Upward Bound, Student Support Services (SSS), and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement, all designed to promote higher education. The name TRIO was devised from the original three programs.
The main goal of this program is to increase retention and graduation rates for these students. The program will provide assistance to eligible students with free advising, counseling, tutoring, financial aid and mentoring. This will include individual, group, and peer tutoring, course selection and registration assistance, information on federal student financial aid, Pell Grants, Scholarships, and much more.
Victor Bellavia, professional staff assistant for SSS, is the head of this program. After applying for and acquiring the job of primary director, Bellavia is in the process of hiring staff internally and externally for the program, as well as coordinating the entire program. After several years of applying and being denied, MSC was awarded the $1.5 million grant, which is spread over 5 years. Bellavia is extremely passionate about the success of the students he oversees, as well as the future hopes for the program and the institution in general.
“This program really was born out of a need for our students because we have so many people who apply in these categories. We really need to support them,” Bellavia said. “Our goal is to help these students who want help to achieve their educational goals, persist and succeed. There is a program out there for you that will help you.”
Another aspect of this program that he is strongly advocating and promoting is peer mentoring. In order for this program to successfully work, Bellavia said we have to incorporate peer mentoring into the program to further guide and help the students on an emotionally closer level than may be realistic with the advisors.
About 140 students who meet the criteria stated will be chosen to partake in this group. A few additional perks include cultural enrichment programs and the possible opportunity to travel and participate in hands-on academic experiences. This program is not designed to work in contrast with any of the efforts the institution is already making in this area, but rather to work in harmony with them to better serve this population. TRIO will also provide students with low test scores the funding and opportunity to retake certain college level tests and assessments to better the students’ chance of academic and future success. This includes Graduate School entry-level tests.
A few of their long term goals include taking students who come in as freshman and work with them throughout their years in college, providing a summer bridge program prior to attendance at MSC for that group in hopes of creating friendships and trust within the TRIO community, and one-on-one advisor with personality assessment to help TRIO students pick appropriate classes. In addition, statistically, the administration hopes to achieve a 72 percent retention rate within the program, to have about 90 percent of the students in good standing (2.0 or above); and a 25 percent graduation rate within 6 years.
In order to be considered for the program, students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a low income, first generation or disabled student. Other qualifications apply. At this time, there are several spots still open for both peer mentors and general applicants. If you have any questions, contact Bellavia at vbellavi@mesastate.edu.

djuliet@mesastate.edu