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Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech welcomed 55 first-year students and nontraditional/transfer students to campus for pre-orientation programs focusing on support systems available and how to succeed at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech during the 2021-22 academic year.

The early programs include First-Year Experience Flight School with Housing & Residence Life, SOAR with Student Involvement & Belonging (SIB), and Summer Bridge through the Tech Opportunities Program (TOP). Each program is geared toward a different group of students and focuses on areas of success for each of those groups.

Trying to navigate without a map can be what it feels like for a first-generation student who decides to pursue higher education. In support of those students who are the first in their families to attend college, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ (Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech) participated in a nationwide event, First-Generation College Celebration, virtually on Nov. 12.

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech’s TRIO Student Support Services has been awarded $1.47 million in competitive grant funding through the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of the program is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants, who include students from low-income families, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. Beginning in September of this year, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech will receive $294,380 annually for the next five years to fund the TRIO program.

TOP services include tutoring, mentoring, networking with other students, college success classes, academic advising, limited scholarship funding, workshops and cultural trips.

Helping students embrace their Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech experience

At Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech, many non-traditional students find support and encouragement through TOP, which provides academic and personal support to help students navigate college.