1. UPDATES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
HEP DIRECTORS’ MEETING – MARCH 27, 2013

2. Overall student service topics
Executive Director / Project Director Titles
The Department is getting requests for Directors to manage numbers of programs beyond what was approved. When submitting requests, please make sure the request is reasonable.
Students going to the Military in the Midst of Program Services
If a student received project services during the program year and enlists in the Military, you may count that student FOR THAT YEAR ONLY….NOT SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
TRIO LIST-SERV
When contacting the Department, please do not reference what you have heard or saw on the list- serv. The Department does not monitor the list-serv.
CUTTING STIPENDS AND GRANT AID
Although stipends and grant aid are optional services, if you wrote it in your grant and included it in your budget, The Department assumes that you will honor that service. You cannot reduce or eliminate WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.

3. Update from frances bergeron
Director, Student Programs Development Division

4. APR’s
McNair & UB(UBMS) Drafts Available for 60 day comment period
McNair Comment Period Ends May 21
UB-UBMS Comment Period Ends May 28
EOC 30 Day Comment period ends on April 18, 2013
Final Comment Period – Read Department’s Response to Initial Comment
To View Drafts and Post Comments to any above APR, go to
SSS – all but 15 submitted on time

5. Update from james davis
Director, GEAR UP and TRIO Talent Search Division

6. G.U.T.S. 100% of all Talent Search Programs submitted APR’s on time
GEARUP due April 15
GEARUP College Savings Accounts Initiative – Combines federal money with matching money. Graduating High School student can end up with up to $2600 in a savings account upon graduating.

7. Update from gaby watts
Director, TRIO Upward Bound and Educational Opportunity Centers Division

8. UB & EOC
Program Specialist are still doing Post-Award Calls to better relationships with grantees
ensuring projects are operating in the manner it should be
CHANGING TARGET SCHOOLS
This is not an immediate option. If you are having problems with your target school(s) and want to delete or switch, you must make a request to your program specialist. Each request will be handled on a case by case basis.
Make sure that all travel requests are allowable and reasonable.
Sequestration
Letter will be sent to all June 1 start dates explaining effects of sequestration in coming weeks.
NO ELMINATION or REDUCTION in Stipends without approval from Department
VUB APR will be looked at next week.

9. Update from Eileen Bland
Director, Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Division

10. CCAMPIS
All Technical Workshops have concluded
If you are interested in writing and missed workshops, please contact your program officer.
Draft Application will be out in about 2-3 weeks for public comment
2 Competitive Preference Priorities
Increased Productivity & Support of Military Families
Will have 30 days to write and submit application
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition in FY 15 (2014)
Anticipates flat or reduced appropriations
Will be Competitive Preference Priorities
GUESSES are Increased Productivity, STEM, and others
Grant Aid – Pell max will increase by $95.00, does not change minimum amount due
Standardized Objectives will remain the same and will reflect changes in Financial Aid
Probably will change degree completion to 3 years (Community Colleges) and 5 years.
Planning on a few site visits
Will be making calls to those chosen VERY SOON.

11. Update from KATIE BLANDING
Director, Graduate and Special Focus Programs Division

12. MCNAIR
Intend on replicating SSS successes with APR
Strongly encourage McNair Staff to make comments about new APR
McNair Competition
158 Successful Applicants out of 400 applicants
DEPARTMENT HEARD ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
Received many complaints and questions from those who were not successful
Internal Coordination including drawdown issues must be resolved at the local level
Looking for more McNair Success Stories…Please submit to Department
McNair and other STEM students will be conducting poster presentations on Capitol Hill next month TRAINING GRANTS
6 Training Grants Awarded

13. Final thoughts Big changes in relation to college completion
Emphasis in the country is towards college completion!  
Must be forward thinking about what you need to do or change in your program
Understand that we must all do our part to keep TRIO relevant.