The following op-ed column was published March 26 by The Schenectady Gazette.
Guest Column: Federal TRIO Program: An Investment in Education
By Dr. Kris Duffy, Dr. Carlee Drummer, Dr. Greg Truckenmiller, Louis Coplin and Dr. Steady Moono
As leaders of Hudson Valley Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, SUNY Schenectady, Columbia-Greene Community College and SUNY Adirondack, we are united in our mission to provide accessible, high-quality education to nearly 20,000 students annually.
We support all programs that break down barriers and foster student success. At the heart of this is the federal TRIO program, which helps hundreds of regional students earn degrees and contribute to the workforce.
For decades, TRIO programs — including Upward Bound and Student Support Services — have provided critical academic, financial and personal support to students who are low-income, first-generation or have disabilities. These students are not lacking in talent or ambition; they simply need access to the same resources and guidance others take for granted. TRIO helps level the playing field.
TRIO’s Impact
U.S. Department of Education data show Upward Bound students are four times more likely to earn a college degree than their non-participating peers. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 649 students across our region benefited from TRIO programs. We have seen firsthand how TRIO transforms lives.
At SUNY Adirondack, a low-income, first- generation college student and National Guard member is carrying a 3.3 GPA in the highly competitive and demanding Nursing program. At Fulton-Montgomery Community College, a first-generation single parent pursuing Criminal Justice is carrying a 4.0 GPA. At Schenectady, a first-generation, low-income student who will transfer to a four-year institution was selected for the prestigious Future Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where she will join 29 other students from across the country to advocate for TRIO before Congress, guided by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), a leading advocacy organization for TRIO.
These success stories are repeated time and again at our institutions, proving that TRIO is an engine of economic and social mobility.
A Smart Investment
Investing in education is investing in our local and state economy. TRIO is a proven, data-driven investment with tangible returns.
College graduates earn higher salaries, contribute more in taxes and are less likely to rely on social services, making funding TRIO a cost-effective strategy for economic growth. Cutting TRIO funding would not reduce government spending. Rather, it would increase costs by reducing college completion rates and limiting economic opportunities for hard-working students.
TRIO aligns with workforce development priorities in the Capital Region. Many TRIO graduates go on to fill critical roles in health care, technology, education and public service — industries in urgent need of skilled professionals.
A Call to Action
TRIO works — for students, families, businesses and our communities. As Congress debates budget priorities, we urge lawmakers to recognize TRIO as a bipartisan success story — one that benefits individuals and our society as a whole.
We invite our community partners, business leaders and policymakers to visit our campuses, meet our TRIO students and see the impact firsthand. The future of New York’s Capital Region depends on a well-educated, well-prepared workforce. TRIO is a crucial part of that future.
We stand together in support of TRIO — because when we invest in students, we invest in a stronger, more prosperous tomorrow.
Dr. Kris Duffy is president of SUNY Adirondack, Dr. Carlee Drummer is president of Columbia-Greene Community College, Dr. Greg Truckenmiller is president of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Louis Coplin is officer in charge at Hudson Valley Community College and Dr. Steady Moono is president of SUNY Schenectady.