TASPians:

Below is a letter from COE encouraging us to make a call to the White House.  Attached is the information for Tennessee to call- Thursday, April 19 at 1:00PM EDT . Please RSVP and call the White House regarding the proposed budget.

Thank you.

 

April 17, 2012

 

Dear TRIO Colleague:

 

This week, the White House is sponsoring conference calls for EACH STATE to discuss the House-passed FY13 budget, which, if enacted, would cut spending for virtually every federal program outside of defense, including entitlements.

The so-called Ryan Budget (nicknamed for House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI)) would set the federal spending cap at $1.028 trillion — or $19 billion below the $1.047 trillion cap set by last year’s Budget Control Act (“BCA”). In order to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade, the BCA set spending caps that call for equal, automatic spending cuts or “sequestration” of about $55 billion from each of defense and non-defense spending accounts beginning on January 2, 2013. However, the Ryan Budget would avoid sequestration for defense programs and would lead to a cut of 19% for domestic discretionary programs. For TRIO, this would mean a cut of $159.6 million. Under the BCA, TRIO would “only” see a cut of 7.8%-9.1% or $65.5-$76.4 million.

 

Calls will take place over the next three days at various times. The attached document contains the RSVP and dial-in information for each call. We strongly encourage all TRIO supporters to participate in the call and pose questions, such as:

 

·         What actions will President Obama take not only to defeat the “Ryan Budget” but also to undo the automatic cuts triggered by the Budget Control Act? If allowed to take place, these cuts would result in a loss of $159.6 million to the Federal TRIO Programs.

·         TRIO has lost nearly 80,000 students over the last six years – 44,000 of those students were lost as a result of the cuts negotiated between President Obama and Congress in FY 2011. We will see even more losses beginning this summer and continuing into the fall unless the Obama Administration takes the lead in ensuring that TRIO funding is restored. Can we count on the President to do this?

·         The President has noted again and again the need for us to “out-educate,” “out-innovate,” and “out-compete” other nations in the global arena. Certainly a key element to achieving those goals in an increase in the number of doctoral recipients, particularly in the STEM fields. Why then did this Administration cut $10 million from TRIO’s McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program – one of the few remaining programs that supports low-income, first-generation and otherwise underrepresented students in obtaining doctoral degrees?

We hope that as many TRIO supporters in as many states as possible will take part in these calls. It is critical to let the White House know that we are an active constituency and that we are counting on the Administration to stand up for these programs and the students and families they serve.

Please contact Heather Valentine (heather.valentine@coenet.us) or me (kimberly.jones@coenet.us) to let us know if you will be able to participate in the calls.

Thank you!

Kimberly Jones

COE

TASP Spring Business Meeting Minutes

Tuesday February 28, 2012

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

Jacksonville, FL

 

The business meeting began at 3:25pm. There were 21 members in attendance.  The new members were welcomed by Pres. Stokes.  New members were given a new member portfolio.  Pres. Stokes says we lost two former TASP members, Moses Gunn and Byron McClure passed away.

 

Approval of Agenda- The agenda was approved without discussion.  All were in favor.

Approval of the minutes- There was a motion by John Johnson to accept the Nov. 1, 2011 minutes and it was 2^nd by Ellen Brazel.  There was no discussion. All were in favor.

 

Reports

1. Pres. Stokes asked for questions about the report she sent out.  There were no questions.  Applications for scholarships are on the website.  Steven Thomas at Tusculum runs the website.  There are nine Taspians attending the Policy Seminar.  The Fact Book is being worked on by Chris Stokes and will be ready by Seminar.  The board met to talk about Trio at the Capitol.  Also, in December the Pres. participated in a virtual meeting with the SAEOPP Board.  She says the SAEOPP Sentinel needs us to send in articles and pictures about our programs.  They are due on April 30 to Jennifer Cady of Morehead and John Foreman of North Carolina, Greensboro.  Pres. Stokes says she will put their e-mail addresses on the website.  Two Taspians completed their Emerging Leaders training.  SAEOPP will send a survey “Strive for 5” re: the SAEOPP board.  We should get it within the next month or so.  She also says Student Iniatives is on Apr. 13-14.  There is only on Talent Search and two McNair programs participating.  She would like them to go to Atlanta.  There were no questions.

 

2. Vice President Dana Patten announced that twenty-seven people registered for this conference.  The next conference will be in Savannah, GA on Jan 27-30^th 2013 at the Hyatt.

 

3. Secretary- no report given
4. Treasurer- Pres. Stokes reported that TASP made $4,381 from the conference.  We need more people to attend our conference.  We need at least 150 for the room rate special. The balance brought forward is $23,592.90.  Our total expenditures were $8,380.44.  A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by Dana Patten and it was 2^nd by Clara Hewitt. All were in favor and the   motion carries.

 

Committee Reports

1. Fall Conference – Patricia Henderson and Dana Patten will co-chair the conference.  The conference will be held October 10-12, 2012 in Gatlinburg, TN.  The theme is TRiO- Climbing every Mountain.  Patricia Henderson handed out the Call for the Proposal sheet.  She says the hotel rates will remain the same at $125.  She also passed around a volunteer sign up form.  She also expressed ideas about “story telling” and inviting cloggers as entertainment.  We need at least 150 people there.  Last year there were only 35 people from Tennessee that attended the conference in Kentucky.

 

2. Fairshare- Dr. Gross and Crickett Pimentel told us we are at 40% of our fairshare goal.  They said if we make a donation at the conference we are eligible to win an ipad, iphone, or a kindlefire.  They also mentioned that the “10 for 10” drive would run through June 30.  Pres. Stokes says we will call you if we have not received money before then.  

 

3. Spring meeting- Nancy Blois-Giles and Crickett Pimentel talk about TRiO at the Capitol.  They ask us to please submit a poster for the event.  The event will take place in the Nashville legislative capital for three or four hours.   The media will be there as well.  Create a poster in PowerPoint in the 32x40 portrait setup.  They will send an e-mail with a template and explain how to print the poster.  Just send them the file.  Please include pictures, program information, the trio logo, and the institution logo.  The event will be held on Tuesday, April 3^rd.  The presentation time is from 9-1pm.  The luncheon is from 12-1.  Legislative hall is where the posters will be displayed.  They said it could be helpful to put our legislative district on the poster as well.  We need at least one poster for each of the seven programs.   Mileage reimbursement is available and you can keep your poster after this event is over.   Parking is 1^st come 1^st serve.  Get there as early as possible.  One hundred and thirty two senators and legislatures will be invited.  Parents and students can contact their representatives and let them know they will attend.  Let your institutions know as well. Please submit the files at least two weeks (March 20) before the luncheon.  Bring photo ID.  Pres. Stokes said state presidents were excited about this.  Heath Alexander at COE has been informed says Dr. Ronnie Gross.

 

4. Scholarships- Tamara Jones says there were 16 scholarship applications submitted.  There were 4-SSS, 2-VUB, 1- McNair, no EOC, 9 Pre-College, 5-UB, 4-ETS, and no UBMS. 

 

5. Student Initiatives- It will be held March 23-24^th at the Riverview Inn hotel in Clarksville, TN at Austin Peay State University.

 

6. Membership:  Membership Chair Charles White says we have 64 members.  He showed the new members’ portfolio that all new members will receive.  All members got a 1 GB flash drive and a Membership Certificate during the meeting.  

 

Old Business- Please e-mail Nancy Blois-Giles or Crickett Pimentel if you want to attend the TRIO Day at the Capitol. 

 

New Business- Belinda Brownlee shares her experience at TCASC Conference at Vanderbilt University talked about their summer program and gave information about the institution. An ACT workshop was held on how to analyze data.  They also had a panel discussion with students attending Vanderbilt.  The university works with school counselors to help students in foster care or homeless.  They had a lot of sharing of best practices sessions.  They had legislators talk about the Tennessee Achieves scholarship.

 

Announcements:

Patricia Henderson mentioned that Tennessee has a low turnout at this conference.  She says when she went to speak in the Kentucky state meeting they had sixty or more people and had already filled out volunteer forms for the upcoming conference.  She says we must do better.

 

Dr. Gross makes a motion to adjourn the meeting and it is 2^nd by Terri Hall.  All were in favor.  The meeting ended at 4:27p.m.

 

 

Scholar’s Bowl- March 23-24, 2012 Riverview Inn, Nashville and Austin Peay State University

TRiO at the Capital- Nashville, TN April 3, 2012

TASP/KAEOPP 2012-Gatlinburg, Park Vista October 9-12, 2012

COE Policy Seminar and Dept. of Ed Relations- Washington, DC March 11-14, 2012

COE National Conference- New York, NY Sept. 6-9, 2012

SAEOPP Trainings- Priority 3: Assessment of Student Needs, Proven Retention and Graduation Strategies, and the Use of Educational Technology- Las Vegas, NV Apr. 11-13, 2012; San Juan, PR Aug, 1-3,2012

SAEOPP Training Workshop for TS/EOC staff- New Orleans, LA July 23-25, 2012

SAEOPP Student Initiatives Weekend April 13-14, 2012 Atlanta, GA

SAEOPP McNair/SSS Scholars Research Conference Georgia State University & Morehouse College June 21-25, 2012 Atlanta, GA

 

 

 

 

TASP Board Meeting

Sunday, February 27, 2012

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

Jacksonville, KY

 

Approval of the Agenda- Pres. Jeanne Stokes asks for a motion to approve the agenda.  A motion was made by Cricket Pimentel and 2^nd by Nancy Blois-Giles.  All members were in favor and the motion carries.

Approval of the minutes- Pres. Stokes asks for a motion to approve the minutes from October 31, 2011.  A motion was made by Vice President Dana Patten and it was 2^nd by Nancy Blois-Giles. All members were in favor and the motion carries.

Reports

1. President- All board members introduced themselves to the members that were present.  Pres. Stokes tells us Cory Major had taken another position outside the state of Tennessee but he had recommended Katrina Heard from the University of Memphis to take his place Pres. Stokes says that the Vice President must chair the conference. It was agreed that the Vice President would have Patricia Henderson to act as a co-chair. 
2. Vice President Dana- no report
3. Secretary- no report
4. Treasurer- Board members reviewed the Treasurer’s Report.  The ending balance in the TASP account is $17,706.95.  There was $6,672.19 left in the COE grant.  Our board spent $374.02 so that our board member Belinda Brownlee could attend the TCASC Conference.  The rest of the COE grant will be spent on the TRiO at the Capitol event and the TRiO fact book.  Pres. Stokes stressed that she wanted the fact book ready by Policy Seminar in March.

 

Committee Reports

 

1.      Spring Meeting- Nancy Blois-Giles and Crickett Pimentel ask if anything was unclear about the information that was sent out in e-mails.  They said we will be using the COE grant to create posters and have them displayed at the capital during the legislative luncheon.  They showed us a poster, book, and nametags as examples.  The posters should have details about each of the seven different TRiO programs.  They showed us an example of a poster and told us to be creative.  Use pictures and facts about your program, etc.  The poster should be set at 32 X 40 inch portrait in PowerPoint for print.  She will send us an e-mail to show us how to print properly.  This should be easy for programs to do.  We can use the template from the e-mail.  Encourage students and parents to come out on that day to meet with legislators.  It will be held on April 3^rd.  We should see if have any TRiO alumni in Nashville, TN that can attend the event.  They asked if we had any questions.  Patricia Henderson asked if there is a certain time frame for the event.  Nancy Blois-Giles says it will be held from 9-1pm.  Crickett Pimentel says the actual lunch will be from 12-1pm.  They tell us to make sure we tell institution leadership about the event.   

 

2.      TASP Conference-– Patricia Henderson made her presentation about the conference theme.  She gave each board member a folder with the committee sign-up sheet, a call for proposal form, a save the date flyer and a conference registration form.  Patricia Henderson gives the members a choice of conference themes:  TRiO Meetin’ on da Mountain with a country theme or Climbing Every Mountain.  The board says TRiO- Climbing Every Mountain was the better theme.  Patricia Henderson suggests clogging representatives from the area colleges and Cricket Pimentel mentions “story telling”.  Patricia Henderson discusses conference rates.  She says the hotel rates are $125 for Gatlinburg, TN.  Patricia Henderson asks what the average amount of people that attend the conference.  Pres. Stokes says the contract is for 150 people.   Registration rates will stay the same.  We need to beef up vendors says Pres. Stokes.  We also need advance notice on silent auction.  We need to get people to sign up for committees at the state meeting tomorrow.  Every committee needs to have people from each part of the state says Patricia Henderson.  Pres. Stokes says we should charge $35 a table for vendors.  Vice President Patten mentions that we may want to charge $60 this time around.  Patricia Henderson has already talked to Chris Stokes about creating the programs for the conference, Mat will be our technical person, and Tamara Jones will be over the workshops. Patricia Henderson says she has packets to give out to Kentucky members as well. 

 

Old and New Business

 

1.  Pres. Stokes asks Belinda Brownlee to talk about the College Access Conference at the state meeting.
2. Vice President Patten asks if we had moved forward on Membership.  Pres. Stokes says she not sure how it went.  We will find out from Charles White how it went on tomorrow.
3.  Patricia Henderson mentions asking other states like North Carolina join us so we can have a Tri-State conference.   Pres. Stokes says she will talk to John Foreman, North Carolina state president, about joining our conference.  We have 52 programs across the state and around 170 people.  Budgets across the state are tight so that may be why numbers have been low.   We must encourage support staff to come to our conferences.

 

Pres. Stokes got phone numbers for all of the board members.  There was a motion to adjourn by Pres. Stokes and it was 2^nd by Patricia Henderson.  The board meeting was adjourned at 6:15pm. 

 

 

 

Announcements:

Scholar’s Bowl- March 23-24, 2012 Riverview Inn, Nashville, TN and Austin Peay State University

TASP/KAEOPP 2012- Gatlinburg, Park Vista October 9-12, 2012

SAEOPP 2012 Conference- New York, NY Sept. 6-9 2012

COE Policy Seminar and Dept. of Ed Relations- Washington, WC March 11-14, 2012

SAEOPP Trainings-Priority 3: Assessment of Student Needs, Proven Retention and Graduation Strategies, and the Use of Educational Technology- Oklahoma, OK Nov. 5-77, Miami, FL Jan. 11-13 2012 Las Vegas, NV Apr. 11-13, 2012- San Juan, PR Aug. 1-3, 2012

SAEOPP Training Workshop for TS/EOC staff- Atlanta, GA Nov. 11-13, 2011

 

 

 

Educational Talent Search Winner

 

Joshua Davis has actively participated in East Tennessee State University’s Educational Talent Search program since the 6th grade and has always proven to be very determined and dedicated in all he undertakes.  Throughout his high school career, he has managed to maintain an impressive 4.0 grade point average while taking accelerated courses and dual enrollment courses as well as participating in many activities and serving as the captain of his school’s basketball team. He has the ability to pursue any career and has taken time to explore different careers throughout middle and high school.  After much research and consideration, he has narrowed his career decision to Orthopedic Medicine.  It was information, workshops, college tours and a host of other things offered by the Educational Talent Search program that equipped him with the personal and professional skills necessary to be successful in any task. He has a well developed plan for his education after high school.  In the fall, he plans to attend East Tennessee State University where he believes he will be molded into a productive citizen in his community.

 

 

High School: Sullivan East High School in Bluff City, Tennessee

Institution: East Tennessee State University

Director: Dr. Ronnie Gross

Nominator: Becky Stout, Assistant Director

TRIO Program: Educational Talent Search

Grade Point Average: 4.0

ACT Score: 29

Career Goal: Orthopedic Surgeon

 

Upward Bound Winner

 

 

High School: Unicoi County High School in Erwin, Tennessee

Institution: Tusculum College

Director: President Jeanne Stokes

Nominator: President Jeanne Stokes

TRIO Program: Upward Bound

Grade Point Average: 4.0

ACT Score: 34

 

Student Support Services Winner

 

 

One of her main accomplishments is conducting two and a half years of research on Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) at her undergraduate institution, APSU, and obtaining the Presidential Scholar Award in 2010. She received the Outstanding Junior Biology Student Award for the academic year, 2010-2011. In the summer of 2011, she studied the cause of breast cancer in the Summer Research Fellowship Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is currently the President of the Women’s Leadership Organization, and has served as the Historian for the Beta Beta Beta Honor Society for over two years. As a member of the university choir team, she brings an artistically polished performance of great choral works to the campus and to the community. She is an active TRiO SSS member who was selected as a peer mentor for the TRiO SSS technology bridge program for the academic year, 2012-2013. As a South Korean immigrant, TRIO SSS was crucial not only for a successful transition to college, but also to a new country.  Ms. Pak credits TRIO for bolstering her abilities to succeed beyond her expectation. 

 

Institution: Austin Peay State University    

Classification: Senior

Director: Marissa Chandler

Nominator: Marissa Chandler

TRIO Program: Student Support Service

Grade Point Average: 4.0

 

While serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps for twenty four years, Alan Koch attained his GED, received numerous awards and citations and advanced to the rank of Master Sergeant.  By nature Alan is a motivator, teacher, leader and most importantly a team player; these traits are demonstrated daily in educational, personal and professional life. Alan’s experience with the military and with Veterans Upward Bound taught him the importance of team work. It was a team effort on VUB’s part that got him into college.  Thus, he has carried this team mentality into his classroom experience where he strives to encourage younger students in group assignments as well as in independent study groups. According to Dr. Merritt, an Associate Professor at Northeast State Community College, Alan exemplifies three areas which are keys to success: dependability, leadership and teamwork. During Alan’s career in the military and in ministry, he has spent time in more than twenty countries around the globe.  His goal in life is to not only educate himself, but also to pass along that knowledge to help someone in the next generation to achieve success in life; he simply wants to pay it forward. 

 

In May of 2012, Alan plans to graduate with an Honors Associate degree from Northeast Tennessee Community College where he currently possesses a 4.0 grade point average. His future goal is to attend East Tennessee State University in the fall of 2012 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree then a Master’s in Seminary. This year Alan will celebrate many milestones in his life; college graduation, tenth year anniversary as Pastor of Cobbs Creek Baptist Church in Butler, Tennessee and his thirty second anniversary to his wife, Mary M (Bryant) Koch. 

 

Institution: East Tennessee State University           

Classification: Junior

Director: Ronnie Gross

Nominator: Lenus C. Morrison, Assist Director of Veteran Upward Bound

TRIO Program: Veterans Upward Bound

Grade Point Average: 4.0

 

Institution: Middle Tennessee State University      

Classification: Senior

Director: Dr. L. Diane Miller

Nominator: Steve Saunders

TRIO Program: Ronald McNair

Grade Point Average: 3.68

Career Goal: Research Biologist

TASPians:

- Crickett, Nancy and Jeanne

 

 

 

1.Hello  insert name of executive aide to university president or other institutional leader,

 

The insert number  TRIO programs sponsored by insert your institution’s name would like to extend an invitation to insert name of invitee to attend the Tennessee Association of Special Programs (TASP) TRiO at the Capitol event on April 3, 2012.  The email attachment provides the details for the event should insert name of invitee be available to attend; otherwise, it serves as an announcement of our proposed activity at the Capitol.

 

Should you have any questions regarding this event, please reply to this email or call your phone number.

 

Thank you,

 

Insert your name and contact information

 

 

2.  Our state professional organization, Tennessee Association of Special Programs (TASP), will be meeting in Nashville, TN to showcase poster presentations about TRiO Programs in the state.  We will join TRiO personnel, participants, parents and legislators in the Legislative Plaza of the Tennessee State Capitol. 

 

You are invited to join us and view our poster presentations on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 9:00am-1:00pm. A boxed lunch will be provided in the Lounge from 12:00-1:00pm.

 

The posters will feature information about the seven different TRiO programs throughout the state including the TRiO Program(s) sponsored by insert your institution’s name.  This is a first for our state organization and we’re very excited about the opportunity to share our successes in Tennessee with the legislators.

 

If you are available to attend, please let me know by March 20, 2012.

 

Thank you,

Insert your name and contact information 

Dear Colleague:

 

COE is considering pushing the Department of Education to extend current McNair and Upward Bound Math/Science awards for one year.  This would allow the Department to defer the award date for upcoming competitions in these programs until after the beginning of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2012.  It could, but would not necessarily, change the due dates for proposals.  COE would not take this position unless a majority of institutions currently sponsoring both McNair and UB Math/Science support the idea.  We are currently exploring whether there are any legal obstacles to the Department taking this action.

 

We are considering this option for two reasons.  First, ED has missed all of the timetables announced regarding competitions to date, most recently with the extension of the deadline for submission of Upward Bound proposals.  We anticipate that the Department will encounter major problems in assuring the completion of the awards – and the appeals process – by September 30 for Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, Math/Science Upward Bound and McNair.  Secondly, an extension in these two competitions would allow the TRIO community to fight against the proposed 22% cut in McNair funding.

 

Please complete the attached survey as quickly as possible located at http://fs3.formsite.com/coecoecoecoe/form291/index.html.

 

We very much appreciate your support.

 

Sincerely,

 

M. Hoyler

 

Maureen Hoyler

Executive Vice-President

Any questions please contact David Wilhoit at 423-869-6228 or david.wilhoit@lmunet.edu.

The Tennessee Association for Special Programs has released the student initiatives for 2012. Student Initiatives for 2012 will be held Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Austin Peay State University.  Meeting space has been secured to allow competition at the university. 

 

 

Hotel Information:

 

The Riverview Inn

50 College Street

Clarksville, TN    37040

Reservations: (931) 552-3331

1-877-487-4837

 

 

*Room Rates:

Room Type	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Check In	Check Out
Standard	$90.46	$90.46	$90.46	$90.46	3/23/12	3/24/12

*This does include taxes.

 

Deadline for reservations:

Please reserve your rooms by March 8, 2012 so that we can determine our status and make changes as necessary.  All reservation must be made on or by Thursday, March 8, 2012 and each program is responsible for making your own reservations.

 

More information coming very soon!

 

Any questions please contact David Wilhoit at 423-869-6228 or david.wilhoit@lmunet.edu.

Good Morning TASPians!  Just wanted to let you know that Cory Major has moved to Arkansas to direct a GEAR-UP Program.  I have asked Katrina Heard with Student Support Services at the University of Memphis to fill this position and she has accepted.  Welcome to the TASP Board as the West Tennessee Representative, Katrina!