Featured Stories
University of Nebraska: Rural Nebraskans are Noticing Fewer Trees, Poll Shows
LINCOLN, Nebraska, Oct. 15 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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October 14, 2026
Rural Nebraskans are noticing fewer trees, poll shows
By Becky Vogt, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication
Most rural Nebraskans have noticed fewer trees in their community or surrounding area over the past five years, according to the latest batch of results from the 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll.
Thirty-two percent of respondents to the poll -- conducted annually by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension -- have noticed many fewer trees in their
... Show Full Article
LINCOLN, Nebraska, Oct. 15 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news:
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October 14, 2026
Rural Nebraskans are noticing fewer trees, poll shows
By Becky Vogt, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication
Most rural Nebraskans have noticed fewer trees in their community or surrounding area over the past five years, according to the latest batch of results from the 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll.
Thirty-two percent of respondents to the poll -- conducted annually by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension -- have noticed many fewer trees in theirarea, and 31% have noticed slightly fewer. An additional 32% have not seen a noticeable change, and only 5% see more trees in their area.
There are differences in this perception by region. Respondents in northeast and southeast Nebraska are more likely to have noticed tree loss in their areas over the past five years. About seven in 10 residents of these regions have seen area tree loss, compared to 47% of residents in the north central region. The north central respondents are the group most likely to say they have seen no noticeable change (45%).
"Forests and trees are woven into the places Nebraskans call home, from the forests of the Sandhills to the trees lining our streets," said Becky Vogt, survey manager. "The fact that most Nebraskans recognize a difference in greenery around their communities shows they value these resources and how they contribute to our communities. That shared appreciation lays a strong foundation for caring for and sustaining Nebraska's forests for generations to come."
Thirty-seven percent of rural Nebraskans surveyed say they are either somewhat or much more interested in tree or forest management compared to five years ago. Six in 10 say their interest has not changed.
Many respondents also see a high risk of wildfire in their community. Fifteen percent say there is a very high risk, and 20% say there is a high risk. Thirty-seven percent say there is a moderate risk.
Once again, there are regional differences. Respondents in both the Panhandle and the north central region are most likely to rate the risk of wildfire in their community as very high or high -- just over two-thirds of respondents, compared to one in 10 residents of the southeast region. The survey was conducted from April to June, during which some large wildfires occurred.
"The differences we see region to region reflect the varied experiences of rural Nebraskans," said Heather Akin, assistant professor of agricultural and environmental sciences communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "They also show an important strength -- people are paying attention to their own communities. That awareness can help Nebraska communities remain resilient and prepared during natural disasters as they care for the natural resources and other assets that make their communities special."
The Nebraska Forest Service, part of the university, works to protect and manage forests across the state through education, stewardship, tree planting and support for rural fire departments. This work ensures that Nebraska's trees provide lasting benefits to communities, wildlife and the environment.
Most rural Nebraskans are not at all or not very familiar with the Nebraska Forest Service, according to the Rural Poll. Twenty-two percent of respondents are not at all and 36% are not very familiar with the organization. Thirty-nine percent are somewhat familiar, and 3% are very familiar with it. Only 13% of the respondents indicated that they own or manage forest land, so that is likely to contribute to the lack of familiarity with the organization.
Only 13% of those surveyed have used the services of the Nebraska Forest Service personally or as part of their community (such as tree workshops, wildfire training or resources, or forest management). But those who have are likely to rate their experience as positive. Of those respondents, 45% rated the experience as somewhat positive and 38% rated it as very positive. Only 3% reported having a somewhat negative experience.
"This should be encouraging information for the Nebraska Forest Service," said Mary Emery, director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska. "While many rural residents might not be familiar with the Forest Service, those who are overwhelmingly report positive experiences. That suggests there is a strong foundation to build on as we continue connecting Nebraska communities with the knowledge, resources and expertise that can help them care for their trees and natural landscapes."
The "Forestry" report and its implications for rural Nebraska will be highlighted during a Rural Poll webinar at noon CDT Oct. 21. Register here (https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/resources/webinars/). The full report can be found on the Nebraska Rural Poll website (https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/).
The 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll marks the 31st year of tracking rural Nebraskans' perceptions about policy and quality of life. It is the largest and longest-running poll of its kind. This April and May, questionnaires were mailed to nearly 6,900 Nebraska households, with 881 households from 86 of the state's 93 counties responding. The poll carries a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3%. Some organizations and researchers have purchased questions in the survey. The questions for this report were purchased by the Nebraska Forest Service. Current and past reports are available here (https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/).
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Original text here: https://news.unl.edu/article/rural-nebraskans-are-noticing-fewer-trees-poll-shows
University of Arkansas: College of Education and Health Professions Researcher Earns National Science Foundation Grant
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Oct. 15 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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College of Education and Health Professions Researcher Earns National Science Foundation Grant
Oct. 14, 2026
A researcher studying the intersection of career development and engineering education in the College of Education and Health Professions has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to help students and communities better understand the future of engineering work.
Yuanlu Niu, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods, will partner
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FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Oct. 15 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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College of Education and Health Professions Researcher Earns National Science Foundation Grant
Oct. 14, 2026
A researcher studying the intersection of career development and engineering education in the College of Education and Health Professions has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to help students and communities better understand the future of engineering work.
Yuanlu Niu, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Research Methods, will partnerwith faculty at Emory University to help establish a new paradigm for spatial workforce science by integrating Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) into engineering education.
"The goal of the project is to help students and communities see where the future of engineering work is going and how to prepare for it," Niu said.
The nearly $250,000 grant is part of NSF's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which aims to enhance research competitiveness by strengthening STEM capacity and capability through a portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure.
"I hope the project helps translate complex data about jobs, skills, education and regional industry growth into practical guidance that supports students' career readiness and strengthens Arkansas' workforce capacity," she said.
During strategic summer residencies, faculty at Emory University will provide training in geospatial workflows, access to high-performance computing and large-scale longitudinal job advertisement data. One of the study's objectives is to establish a sustained research and education pipeline between the two universities through collaborative grant proposals, outreach and the development of specialized resources for engineering programs.
The project aims to advance workforce development and engineering education by shifting from static, descriptive analysis to predictive computational modeling. At the end of the two-year funding cycle, Niu will have developed a validated AI workforce taxonomy along with workforce-gap maps.
"I was drawn to this project because it connects my background in workforce and career development with new GeoAI tools that can explore patterns we could not easily see before," Niu said. "It is exciting to use advanced data methods for analysis and create practical resources that can help students make decisions about their futures."
Niu hopes the resources generated through the study will help students make more informed decisions about their futures. She also envisions the study helping establish the U of A as a regional leader in data-driven workforce analytics.
Methods from the project will be embedded in human resource development courses to build data literacy, and a graduate research assistant will be trained, helping support STEM participation and regional economic development.
The EPSCoR program is part of NSF's Broadening Participation portfolio, which supports efforts to build STEM education and research capacity, catalyze new areas of STEM research and develop strategic partnerships and alliances.
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Original text here: https://news.uark.edu/articles/83059/college-of-education-and-health-professions-researcher-earns-national-science-foundation-grant
Small-scale desalination technology could be the answer to water security in remote Australia
PERTH, Australia, Oct. 15 -- Murdoch University posted the following news:
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Small-scale desalination technology could be the answer to water security in remote Australia
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With water security in the spotlight during National Water Week, new technology supported by researchers at Murdoch University has the potential to solve water scarcity issues in remote and rural Australia.
While many cities enjoy a steady flow of safe and reliable water, remote communities often face a different reality.
With freshwater sources non-existent or severely depleted, during times of drought, many rural
... Show Full Article
PERTH, Australia, Oct. 15 -- Murdoch University posted the following news:
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Small-scale desalination technology could be the answer to water security in remote Australia
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With water security in the spotlight during National Water Week, new technology supported by researchers at Murdoch University has the potential to solve water scarcity issues in remote and rural Australia.
While many cities enjoy a steady flow of safe and reliable water, remote communities often face a different reality.
With freshwater sources non-existent or severely depleted, during times of drought, many ruraltowns depend on water being trucked daily from metropolitan areas at great cost and inefficiency.
As part of the WaterSmart Farms project, researchers from Murdoch University, in collaboration with scientists at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Water Corporation, and industry, have demonstrated the potential of a fully self-sustainable, decentralised desalination unit to offer a solution.
Wongutha Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School (CAPS) is an Aboriginal boarding school located more than 700km from Perth, near Esperance.
Due to its remote location, the school is unable to be connected to the WA water grid.
Water on site had historically been sourced from a nearby farm, however the quality and quantity of the water has been on a steady decline.
Professor Wendall Ela from Murdoch University's Harry Butler Institute and a team of scientists worked with industry engineers to build an off-grid desalination unit - small enough to fit inside a shipping container - which is now sustaining the school.
The unit, powered by renewable energy via solar panels and batteries, is able to turn salty groundwater into freshwater, and pump the rejected saline water to a nearby field of saltbush - a drought resistant native plant which is used to feed livestock.
Professor Ela is a distinguished expert in desalination technology development.
"I came to Australia about 12 years ago specifically because of the opportunities here in desalination and water treatment generally," he said.
It's the epitome of where you must have this new way of thinking. You have to use inland resources - saline water and renewable energy.
Desalination technology has been in the commercial market since the late 1980's, however most research has been focused on very large systems which are unrealistic for communities like Wongutha.
Professor Ela has sought to address that gap, with his research focusing on sustainable decentralised and off-grid water treatment systems which provide solutions for rural communities and agriculture, at a fraction of the cost.
"It's become its own field of applied research - how to use distributed small-scale systems that utilise local resources efficiently," he said.
"That's what drew me to the WaterSmart Farms project. Wongutha allowed us to combine locally sourced renewable energy and water from multiple bores without taking too much from any one place, while also integrating rainwater collection and brine management."
Wongutha CAPS Facilities Manager Kris Nostrini said the unit has supplied more than seven and a half megalitres of water to the site for residents and students to use.
The desalination unit has completely changed our life here at Wongutha.
"We now have a great, steady supply of water, we have a quality supply of water.
"Our students are getting the best quality of water that we can possibly give them, which is comforting to know. It adds to their quality of life and flows through from the commercial kitchen through to their showers."
Mr Nostrini said one of the great benefits of the project was having students involved in the instalment and management of the unit.
"It's been great to see them laying pipe, connecting tanks, working on tank pads, and now filling out log sheets of the system running," he said.
"To learn some of that for myself has been a privilege, but also to be able to share this with our students, and the science behind it all is amazing.
"Something I'd really like to see is for students to take this knowledge to their own communities and be able to look after these units themselves."
The project was initiated and funded by DPIRD's WaterSmart Farms initiative and Water Corporation, with additional support from the National Water Grid Fund (NWGF).
The Wongutha system is one of four community-based desalination units being demonstrated as part of the wider DPIRD-led WaterSmart Farms project evaluating over 50 on-farm desalination units to test whether local water and renewable energy can support farms and remote communities. The other three community systems are located in Dumbleyung, Katanning, and Merredin.
Watch the latest edition of our Bright Lights series:
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Original text here: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/small-scale-desalination-technology-could-be-the-answer-to-water-security-in-remote-australia
SUNY-Upstate Receives $1.5 Million to Advance Brain Disease Research
SYRACUSE, New York, Oct. 15 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Written by Jean Albanese
October 14, 2026
Upstate receives $1.5 million to advance brain disease research
Upstate Medical University has been awarded $1.5 million by New York state to create an advanced research center for brain diseases.
Announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Upstate's $ 1.5 million award is part of a $10 million, multi-campus initiative called the SUNY Brain Institute, which aims to expand SUNY's neuroscience research to combat Alzheimer's disease,
... Show Full Article
SYRACUSE, New York, Oct. 15 -- The State University of New York Upstate Medical University campus issued the following news:
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Written by Jean Albanese
October 14, 2026
Upstate receives $1.5 million to advance brain disease research
Upstate Medical University has been awarded $1.5 million by New York state to create an advanced research center for brain diseases.
Announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Upstate's $ 1.5 million award is part of a $10 million, multi-campus initiative called the SUNY Brain Institute, which aims to expand SUNY's neuroscience research to combat Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease, stroke, and other age-related brain disorders.
Led by the State University of New York at Buffalo, and including the State University of New York at Binghamton, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, SUNY College of Optometry and Upstate Medical University, the network will bring together complementary infrastructure, scientific expertise, and research capabilities to accelerate discovery, advance technological innovation, and improve health outcomes for New Yorkers.
Upstate will establish the Biospecimen-iPSC-Organoid (BiO) Node, which will integrate biospecimens, induced pluripotent stem cells and organoid models to support human-centered neuroscience research.
"These are obviously very complex diseases," said Upstate's Rick Matthews, PhD, associate professor and vice chair for neuroscience and physiology. "Understanding the pathology and developing effective treatments for these complex disorders requires resources beyond the reach of any single lab or campus. By establishing this cross-campus network, we can coordinate our expertise, equipment, and advanced techniques to accelerate progress together."
Matthews is the principal investigator, joined by co-PIs Brian Howell, PhD, and Tinatin Chabrashvili, MD, PhD. Together with contributing faculty and staff from the clinical departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the basic science department of Neuroscience & Physiology, they bring expertise spanning advanced cellular, molecular, and biochemical analyses to human neural physiology.
Howell and Chabrashvili will lead the BiO Node's scientific and daily operations. State-of-the-art techniques will reprogram patient blood samples into pluripotent stem cells, which will then be used to create neurons, other brain cell types and higher-order brain-like structures in a dish--organoids genetically identical to the patient. This will offer SUNY Brain Institute researchers the means to create human models of age-related neurological diseases.
Key to creating impactful organoid models is collecting samples from well-characterized, precisely diagnosed patient populations. Chabrashvili, director of the Neurodegenerative Disorder Center, will spearhead this effort, building on the deeply phenotyped patient cohort and diagnostic infrastructure she has established at Upstate. She, Howell, and the BiO Node will work with Upstate neurologists and neurosurgeons, expanding over time to include clinicians at other SUNY campuses and hospitals.
Matthews likens the organoids to avatars that can model the disease as it presents in the specific patient.
"Being able to develop models derived from the actual patients is a critical step forward," he said. "In the short term, it will enable research to develop novel therapeutic strategies. In the long term it may put us in a position to develop individualized therapies."
An estimated 427,000 New Yorkers have Alzheimer's or related dementias, a figure that is projected to rise with aging population.
"New York State is investing in transformative research that dives into issues affecting communities throughout the state," Hochul said. "By connecting leading researchers and advanced infrastructures across New York, the SUNY Brain Institute will accelerate work on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and other age-related brain disorders to find cures so families in every community have the quality time together that they deserve."
Adds Matthews: "The SUNY Brain Institute has the potential to be transformative."
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Original text here: https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2026/2026-10-14-brain.php
Riverside Community College: Manufacturing Day at IETTC @ Perris Introduces Orange Vista High School Students to Drone Technology, Engineering, and STEM Careers
RIVERSIDE, California, Oct. 15 -- The Riverside Community College District issued the following news:
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Manufacturing Day at IETTC @ Perris Introduces Orange Vista High School Students to Drone Technology, Engineering, and STEM Careers
10/14/2026
Students from Orange Vista High School in the Val Verde Unified School District participated in a hands-on Manufacturing Day experience on Oct. 2, 2026, at the Inland Empire Technical Trade Center (IETTC) at Perris, part of Riverside Community College District's (RCCD) Workforce and Economic Development (WED) initiatives.
In partnership with America
... Show Full Article
RIVERSIDE, California, Oct. 15 -- The Riverside Community College District issued the following news:
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Manufacturing Day at IETTC @ Perris Introduces Orange Vista High School Students to Drone Technology, Engineering, and STEM Careers
10/14/2026
Students from Orange Vista High School in the Val Verde Unified School District participated in a hands-on Manufacturing Day experience on Oct. 2, 2026, at the Inland Empire Technical Trade Center (IETTC) at Perris, part of Riverside Community College District's (RCCD) Workforce and Economic Development (WED) initiatives.
In partnership with AmericaMakes, the event welcomed 22 students, accompanied by teachers Michelle Maddred and Taylor McDonald, for an interactive introduction to engineering, drone technology and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities.
Engineering Through Hands-On Learning
Students tackled a simulated emergency scenario that challenged them to design and test lightweight retrieval mechanisms to help drones transport small frames representing personal protective equipment (PPE) from a simulated disaster area. Working in teams, students experimented with different designs, evaluated their results, and refined their solutions.
The activity encouraged critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving while showing how engineering concepts apply to real-world challenges.
"Manufacturing Day was incredibly rewarding! Connecting with students from Orange Vista High School, answering their questions, and supporting their hands-on drone activities allowed me to see firsthand how meaningful engagement can spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire students to explore new career possibilities," said Veronica Mendoza, student success coordinator at RCCD WED's Inland Empire Technical Trade Center in Perris.
Exploring Drone Technology
America Makes supported the event by providing 15 drones, a protective flight enclosure, materials for the engineering challenge, and instructional support. Trainers Trina and Jason from America Makes guided students through drone controls and flight operations before they practiced maneuvering drones inside the enclosure.
Students applied what they learned by operating the drones and attempting to retrieve their teams' designed objects. The activity connected engineering design with practical drone operation and introduced students to technology used in fields such as manufacturing, logistics, inspection, and emergency response.
Leah Pineda, student success coordinator at RCCD WED's Inland Empire Tech Bridge in Norco, also participated and assisted with the activities.
"Being able to participate firsthand, assist with the activities, and fly a drone myself was a rewarding experience, especially seeing the students' excitement, creativity, and problem-solving skills come to life as they explored new technology and learned about future STEM career opportunities," Pineda said.
Building Career Pathways and Strengthening the Regional Workforce
Manufacturing Day gave students a chance to explore technical fields through hands-on experience, showing how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics translate into practical skills and potential career paths. The event also demonstrated the value of partnerships among educational institutions, industry organizations, and workforce development providers in connecting students with emerging technologies and career opportunities.
Through initiatives such as Manufacturing Day, IETTC @ Perris aims to expand access to hands-on, not-for-credit training and strengthen career pathways throughout the Inland Empire. By collaborating with schools, colleges, and regional employers, IETTC prepares students and adult learners for in-demand careers while helping employers develop the skilled workforce they need.
These efforts support regional economic growth and create opportunities for community members to build skills, explore new careers, and contribute to the region's future.
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Original text here: https://rccd.edu/news/Manufacturing_Day_at_IETTC.html
Kansas State University: Jordan Wilson Named Chief Information Security Officer
MANHATTAN, Kansas, Oct. 15 -- Kansas State University issued the following news:
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Jordan Wilson named chief information security officer
Oct. 14, 2026
Following a national search, Jordan Wilson has been appointed assistant vice president and chief information security officer at Kansas State University. She will start Oct. 26.
Wilson will provide universitywide leadership for K-State's information security program, working across the institution to strengthen cybersecurity, manage risk and protect university information and technology resources while supporting K-State's teaching, research
... Show Full Article
MANHATTAN, Kansas, Oct. 15 -- Kansas State University issued the following news:
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Jordan Wilson named chief information security officer
Oct. 14, 2026
Following a national search, Jordan Wilson has been appointed assistant vice president and chief information security officer at Kansas State University. She will start Oct. 26.
Wilson will provide universitywide leadership for K-State's information security program, working across the institution to strengthen cybersecurity, manage risk and protect university information and technology resources while supporting K-State's teaching, researchand service missions.
"Jordan brings valuable higher-education cybersecurity experience and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Kansas public universities," said Thomas Bunton, associate vice president and chief information officer at K-State. "I look forward to her leadership and to the experience she'll bring to K-State. I also want to thank the search committee for its dedication and thoughtful work throughout this process. Their commitment helped us identify an outstanding leader for this important role."
Wilson joins K-State from Emporia State University, where she currently serves as interim chief information security officer. Her experience includes information security strategy and operations, security risk assessment and security awareness efforts.
"I'm excited to join K-State, an institution I've admired for a long time," she said. "I look forward to building relationships across campus and bringing cybersecurity frameworks and operational best practices together in a way that supports K-State's mission. Security should enable teaching, research and innovation, not stand in the way of it, and I'm excited to work alongside the talented teams at K-State to continue strengthening and growing the university's security program.
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Original text here: https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/10/jordan-wilson-named-chief-information-security-officer.html
Enabling CSU Students to See What's Possible Through TRIO
LONG BEACH, California, Oct. 15 -- California State University issued the following news:
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Enabling CSU Students to See What's Possible Through TRIO
By Alisia Ruble
10/14/2026
College success often starts with one person who believes in you. TRIO programs help make those connections every day.
As a high school student participating in Upward Bound through Cal State Fullerton, Erica Lizano was introduced to opportunities that helped shape her educational journey. Today, she has come full circle, returning to CSUF as an assistant professor of sociology at the same institution that helped
... Show Full Article
LONG BEACH, California, Oct. 15 -- California State University issued the following news:
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Enabling CSU Students to See What's Possible Through TRIO
By Alisia Ruble
10/14/2026
College success often starts with one person who believes in you. TRIO programs help make those connections every day.
As a high school student participating in Upward Bound through Cal State Fullerton, Erica Lizano was introduced to opportunities that helped shape her educational journey. Today, she has come full circle, returning to CSUF as an assistant professor of sociology at the same institution that helpedguide her toward college success. Her story reflects the lasting impact federal TRIO programs can have on students' lives.
For nearly 60 years, federally funded TRIO programs have helped first-generation, low-income and other eligible students access and succeed in higher education. The name "TRIO" comes from the three original federal programs that were grouped together under one initiative in the late 1960s. Today, the initiative includes eight programs designed to help students navigate pathways to and through college.
Yet, as Kyrstie Lane, project director of TRIO Student Support Services at Cal State Monterey Bay, noted, "A lot of folks don't know TRIO exists."
At campuses across the California State University, programs such as Upward Bound, Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program support students at critical milestones, from preparing for college to earning a bachelor's degree and pursuing doctoral study. Together, they illustrate a larger truth: Students often don't need someone to chart their course for them. They need someone to help them see what's possible.
Building a College-Going Future
For many students, support begins long before they apply to college.
At Cal State Fullerton, Adriana Badillo, director of the Center for Educational Partnerships, oversees multiple federally funded outreach programs, including Upward Bound, which serves first-generation and low-income high school students.
"We are really helping them to not only demystify what the college pathway looks like but standing there next to them every step of the way," Badillo said.
Students participate in summer programs on campus to experience college life firsthand, visit universities throughout California and receive support with admissions, financial aid and academic planning. Families are included throughout the process, helping caregivers better understand pathways to higher education.
An alumna of a TRIO program herself, Badillo credits the experience with helping her prepare for college and connect with support systems after enrollment.
"I like to say I'm a testament of what TRIO can do," she said.
Today, she sees that same impact reflected in former participants such as Lizano, who returned to CSUF as a faculty member, and another alumna, Jessica Guerrero--a former McNair Scholar who became the first Latina president of the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Education.
Helping Students Persist and Graduate
Getting students to college is only part of the challenge. Staying enrolled, choosing the right classes, understanding financial aid and balancing life's demands can be just as difficult.
At CSUMB, TRIO Student Support Services provides academic advising, tutoring, mentoring and connections to campus resources for more than 280 students annually, with demand often exceeding available capacity.
"Just having someone you feel comfortable asking questions of, it makes a huge difference," Lane said.
For first-generation students especially, that support can be transformative, helping them navigate everything from financial aid forms and degree requirements to building friendships and a sense of belonging on campus.
The impact is measurable. TRIO participants at CSUMB achieved a six-year graduation rate of 76% for first-time freshmen, compared with just over 60% for the campus overall.
At San Jose State, where Maria Cruz oversees the university's Student Support Services/ASPIRE program--as well as its McNair Scholars Program--participants recently achieved a persistence and graduation rate of nearly 79%, significantly exceeding the program's federal objective.
"Time is precious," said Cruz, who is also a senior lecturer in SJSU's Chicana/o Studies Department. "That's the biggest thing that we give them. The time they need to navigate their educational plan."
For students who are the first in their families to attend college, having individualized attention can mean the difference between feeling overwhelmed by the system and learning how to navigate it.
Preparing Tomorrow's Scholars
For some students, the journey doesn't end with a bachelor's degree.
Named for astronaut and physicist Ronald E. McNair, the McNair Scholars Program prepares first-generation, low-income and other eligible undergraduate students for doctoral study through research opportunities, faculty mentorship and graduate school preparation, among other activities. Cruz emphasized that the program is open to students from all backgrounds who meet eligibility requirements.
"It doesn't have to be a certain race or ethnicity," Cruz said. "And the fields of research these students are focused on are extremely diverse. They don't have to be in a STEM field."
Each year, approximately 15 SJSU students enter a cohort that introduces them to the realities of academic research and doctoral education, helping them develop original research projects, present their work, publish scholarly research and prepare graduate school applications.
Cruz, who participated in the McNair Scholars Program through UC Berkeley, knows the program's impact firsthand.
"I never would have dreamed that I would have been a doctor," she said. "This was a bigger dream than I imagined for myself."
Today, the program achieves retention and graduation rates of approximately 99%. Former participants have gone on to doctoral programs at institutions including Stanford and Johns Hopkins, with many returning to mentor future scholars.
Among them is James Doucet-Battle, a medical anthropologist and faculty member at UC Santa Cruz who teaches at Johns Hopkins and regularly returns to support current students.
Supporting Students Through Uncertainty
The professionals who administer TRIO programs face a responsibility that extends far beyond advising students.
Federal TRIO grants are highly competitive and must be renewed through rigorous reporting requirements that measure student success and program outcomes. At SJSU, Cruz writes and manages grants that are renewed every five years and evaluated through detailed annual performance reports.
"You don't just write the grant and automatically get it," Cruz said. "It's about what have been your annual performance reports like? Have you been reaching those objectives?"
As federal policies continue to evolve, uncertainty surrounding education funding has created new challenges for staff and students alike. Badillo noted that changing financial aid policies, funding concerns and broader questions about the value of higher education can create additional barriers for students already facing economic hardship.
The stakes become especially clear when grant funding is no longer available. At Stanislaus State, the federally funded Student Support Services program ended in August 2025 after the university's application for continued funding was unsuccessful. Rather than allowing students to lose support, the university transitioned continuing SSS students into its Educational Opportunity Program advising structure so they could continue receiving academic guidance and support through graduation.
"We felt strongly that students who had been accepted into SSS should not lose their advising relationships and support simply because the funding ended," said Tracy Myers, director of Student Empowerment and Success at Stanislaus State.
The transition required the university to rethink service delivery and advising caseloads, Myers said, but maintaining continuity remained a priority because "losing that funding doesn't mean those students suddenly stop needing those services."
Yet throughout these conversations, one theme surfaces again and again: potential.
The students served through TRIO programs often already have the talent, curiosity and determination to succeed. What they may lack is access to information, mentorship or examples of what their futures could look like.
"There is talent at every socioeconomic level," Badillo said. "There's genuine talent. There's genuine potential."
Former TRIO participants have gone on to become professors, researchers, nurses, educators and community leaders, and many return to mentor students facing the same circumstances they once faced themselves.
Their stories are a reminder that college success is rarely the result of talent alone. Often it's the result of having someone in your corner at exactly the right moment.
As Cruz put it, "It takes one person just to see you and say, 'Yes, you can.'"
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Original text here: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/Enabling-CSU-Students-to-See-Whats-Possible-Through-TRIO.aspx
