All TRiO federally funded programs are designed to assist low-income, first-generation, and/or students with disabilities to attend colleges/universities around the country, with the ultimate goal of completing a bachelor's or advanced degree in a timely manner while achieving the highest GPAs, maximizing all financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and minimizing their student debt.
SSS grants are issued for five years and are performance based funding from the Department of Education, via the Higher Education Act of 1965. Columbia College was first awarded this SSS grant in 2010. The college's SSS grant was subsequently renewed in 2015 and again in 2020.
Learn more about TRiO Transfer Services (SSS)
TRiO Motherlode Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC) is a federally-funded program sponsored through the Department of Education that provides personalized transition services to individuals who wish to explore their options to attend a college/vocational program. TRiO Educational Opportunity Center programs are designed to reach out across large sections of communities to promote a college-going culture. A variety of services can be provided to meet this broad goal. The Motherlode EOC grant was awarded by Department of Education to the host of Columbia College September 1st, 2016. The grant is scheduled to serve 1,000 people per year, across a five county region of the Sierra Nevada Motherlode: Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Mariposa, and Stanislaus counties. Local partner agency clients, high school students, and the general public are all welcome to apply for services year-round.
The grant is for approximately $1.2 million dollars ($1,180,000) over 5 years. It was first granted in 2016 and has been renewed in 2021. Some of our over 70 different partner agencies include: Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA), Motherlode Job Training (MLJT), all service area high schools and alternative schools, Sierra Conservation Center, local jails/juvenile detention, and all local social service organizations and Tribal TANF agencies.
