Byrd Announces Funds for West Virginia Colleges and Universities

March 28th, 2005

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced Thursday that several of West Virginia’s colleges and universities will soon receive funds aimed at expanding educational opportunities to students from low-income families.

Through the federal TRIO program, schools will be able to use the funds for programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“West Virginia’s future relies on our ability to teach our young people and encourage them to stay in the Mountain State,”Byrd said.”The TRIO programs at these schools will open the door to college for more students, and help to build a brighter future for all of the Mountain State.”

Specifically, the colleges and universities receiving funds are:

  • Bluefield State College: four-year grant award, first year funds of $340,118;
  • Concord College: five-year award, first year funds of $285,821;
  • Glenville State College: four-year award, first year funds of $219,977;
  • Marshall University: four-year award, first year funds of $271,074;
  • Potomac State College of WVU : five-year award, first year funds of $240,571;
  • Salem International University: four-year award, first year funds of $235,689;
  • Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College: four-year award, first year funds of $253,858;
  • West Virginia State University: four-year award, first year funds of $271,074;
  • WVU Institute of Technology: four-year award, first year funds of $326,653; and
  • West Virginia University: four-year award, first year funds of $278,286

The federal TRIO programs help low-income and first-generation college students to plan, prepare and succeed in college.

“Education is the passport to progress. By creating more opportunities for young people to earn a college degree, the educators involved in TRIO programs are sowing the seeds for a brighter tomorrow,”Byrd said.

Despite the importance of programs like TRIO , President Bush has proposed eliminating funds for two key parts of the initiative: the Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound. More than 3,600 West Virginia students would lose assistance, and the state would lose more than $5 million in funding if the President’s cuts are enacted.

“The President’s proposed cuts to the TRIO program will drastically hurt the ability of educators to serve at-risk middle and high school students,”Byrd said.”Whether one uses’new math’or’old math,’cutting programs that help young West Virginians adds up to a loss for the Mountain State.”