NJCU Celebrates National TRIO Day with Inaugural Statewide Leadership Conference on February 28
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) students from NJCU's TRIO Learning Community (TLC) Program will participate as hosts in the inaugural Statewide New Jersey TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Student Leadership Conference on Friday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Michael B. Gillian Student Union.
NJCU and its TRIO Learning Community Program will host the conference, which will bring together TRIO students from 11 four and two-year schools across New Jersey, including participants from Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, Camden County College, Georgian Court University, Ocean County College, Passaic County Community College, Rider University, Rowan College of South Jersey Cumberland, Rutgers University, Rutgers-Newark, Saint Peter's University, and Seton Hall University.
The conference is planned in conjunction with the 2025 National TRIO Day of Service, to express appreciation to the community for its support of the TRIO programs. For millions of students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, seven federally funded programs called TRIO are making a world of difference.
"The TRIO programs began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, creating pathways to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds," said Dr. Jonelle Knox, Assistant Provost of Student Success and Retention. "Today, colleges and universities serve more students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, and programs like TRIO remain a catalyst for access, providing the support needed to achieve personal and educational success. We are thrilled that NJCU will host the inaugural Statewide New Jersey TRIO SSS Student Leadership Conference, bringing together student leaders to develop skills, build networks, and celebrate the legacy of TRIO. This milestone event underscores our commitment to student success and the vital role TRIO plays in shaping future leaders."
TRIO/TLC is a federal Student Support Services Program at NJCU, funded by the United States Department of Education and the university. This program is designed to provide support services to low-income, first-generation students and/or students with disabilities.
"TRIO Student Support Services create essential pathways for First-Generation, Income-Eligible, and students with disabilities to achieve success," said M. Christina Rolan Velez, Director of NJCU’s TRiO Learning Community Program. "The individualized support students receive empowers them to earn their degrees and reach their full potential. As both the Director and a former Program Counselor of the TRIO Learning Community Program, I have witnessed students persevere through challenges with the support of TRIO staff, enabling them to accomplish their goals. For our students, TRIO means family, hope, and opportunity. National TRIO Day is a time to raise awareness about the importance of educational access for income-eligible and first-generation students."
National TRIO Day History
National TRIO Day originated in 1986 when Congress passed a resolution in response to the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act, which threatened to significantly reduce funding for TRIO programs. The day was established to focus the nation's attention on the needs of disadvantaged young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives, to the necessary investment if they are to become contributing citizens of the country, and to the talent which will be wasted if that investment is not made.
Now observed annually on the last Saturday of February, National TRIO Day has been proclaimed a National Day of Service, encouraging participants to give back to their communities.
TRIO's National Impact
Unlike student financial aid programs, which help students overcome financial hurdles to higher education, the TRIO programs recognize the importance of overcoming all barriers to success. For more than 50 years, they have been providing valuable supportive services to help first-generation students, students from low-income families, veterans, and students with disabilities enter and graduate from college.
Today, more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and community agencies host more than 2,800 TRIO projects that serve approximately 880,000 young people and adults from diverse backgrounds nationwide.
For more information about the TRIO programs at NJCU or the upcoming Leadership Conference, please contact the TRIO Learning Community Program office — located in Hepburn Hall, Room 112-E — at 201-200-2204 or email tlc@njcu.edu.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301