Seattle Central loses TRIO funding–students feel the effects

The Trump administration’s efforts to scale back the U.S. Department of Education have now reached Seattle Central. This fall, the administration did not renew millions of dollars in federal grants for Central’s TRIO Classic program, which supports disadvantaged students. Central is evaluating ways to fund the program and reallocate its resources, but students are already feeling the effects of the funding loss.

Last August, Central learned that the U.S. Department of Education would not renew funding for TRIO Classic. The program is one of the college’s two federal TRIO programs. The other program, which supports STEM students, remains fully funded but received only a one-year extension.

TRIO Classic provides academic support to students from underserved communities. It serves low-income, disabled, first-generation, and veteran students. The program provides tutoring, financial counseling, education and career advising, and mentoring. It also offers early course registration for students whose resources might delay enrollment.

Amir, a second-year student at Central, said TRIO has given him new academic opportunities that have improved his education. “It definitely leveled the playing field for people who had fewer resources,” he said. Before using TRIO’s early registration, Amir said he could not register for his preferred courses, but after enrolling through the program, he became more engaged in his coursework. “It actually led to my GPA increasing. It was a huge benefit.”

When Amir visited Central’s TRIO office to register for the winter quarter, he was denied assistance. He was told TRIO didn’t have the staff available to assist him. Amir not only lost early registration but also lost the guidance of his TRIO advisor, Jose. Amir said losing an advisor so familiar with his academic plans has already affected his winter quarter. “It hurt,” he said, “not being able to have those conversations with him.”

Looking ahead, Amir is less worried for himself and more for the next generation of college students. “TRIO did change my life,” he said. “I hope future students can get the same support I did.”

A spokesperson for Central said the college is weighing options to cover the loss of more than $500,000 a year in TRIO cuts. He told The Seattle Collegian that “the college is assessing how to best allocate resources to support students while the TRIO Classic grant is not active.” He added that the college is “evaluating staffing, partnership models, and potential philanthropic support.”

Central has also consulted lobbyists and contacted its legislative representatives. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education told Inside Higher Ed that colleges with canceled TRIO grants will have the chance “to ask the department for reconsideration of their applications.” However, the future of TRIO under the Trump administration appears uncertain.

In its effort to reduce its programs, the Department of Education has cut federal school grants nationwide. In March, President Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “close” her department to the “maximum extent” that law permits. Following through on this directive, McMahon has targeted several congressionally mandated grants, including TRIO.

McMahon has escalated her efforts over the past month. In November, she dismissed most federal staff who administered TRIO grants. On Nov. 18, her department announced it would transfer TRIO management to the Department of Labor. The announcement said the Department of Education “will continue its oversight” of TRIO. However, at a Senate Appropriations hearing in June, when a bipartisan group of senators pressed her to explain potential grant cuts, she testified that the department “has no ability” to perform oversight of TRIO. “We aren’t able to see the effectiveness,” she said.

For Amir, TRIO’s effectiveness is clear. “All my life, I felt unsupported,” he said, “and being supported through TRIO actually made me want to come to school and put my best foot forward.”