Federal TRIO Grant Renewed for Five More Years Federal funds to assist students under the REACH/TRIO Student Support Services program have been renewed for the next five years, assuring that Cazenovia has $350,000 to dedicate to programs promoting academic achievement and scholarly development for first-generation college students, students from income eligible families, and/or students with disabilities who attend the College.
T
he grant helps the College financially fulfill its mission of accessibility and affordability for students by providing programs and services designed to help students overcome adversities in their lives as they enter college, and throughout their years here on the path to graduation. Services the funds support include: • Academic coaching and advising • Dedicated math and writing coaches • Connections to peer/professional tutors • Help with financial aid and graduate school application • Assistance determining career paths • Laptop and graphing calculator loans REACH/TRIO programming also strives to provide students with empowering life experiences, safe spaces, and a standard of accountability. Qualifying guidelines are determined by the federal government. Kate Tressler, director, REACH/TRIO Student Support Services at Cazenovia, says the program has had a valuable impact on students at Cazenovia who face significant challenges to completing their educations and who are often traditionally marginalized in the higher education system. “We are proud to say that over 90 per cent of our students persist year to year and are in good academic standing. We also have an excellent graduation rate achieved over four years. Our staff works hard to help students develop their skills regarding time management, communication, emotional intelligence, and overall persistence. Additionally, we are seeing the impacts of remote/hybrid learning in the past year and remain a place where students can vent their concerns and frustrations while feeling less isolated in their experience during these unprecedented times.” Cazenovia was awarded the grant in 1986 and has been renewed for the funding ever since. Typically, 160 students per year are assisted under the program’s auspices. REACH (Recognizing Excellence, Achievement, Commitment, and Honor), a TRIO Student Support Services Program, receives 100 percent of its budget from the federal TRIO grant program authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and awarded to educational institutions by the U.S. Department of Education.
Faculty Members Earn Promotions to Associate Professor Status Two Cazenovia College professors, Jesse Harasta and Tracy Trachsler, have been promoted from assistant to associate professor status on the faculty. Jesse Harasta, Ph.D., began his career at Cazenovia College as an adjunct instructor in 2013. He served as a term instructor and Summer Experience instructor in 2014. In 2016, he was hired as an assistant professor of Social Sciences and as director of the International Studies program. He has been instrumental in administering international programs, spearheading a new studyabroad location in Japan, establishing new courses in Japanese and Arabic, and starting the College’s first international student exchange. Dr. Harasta earned his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from SUNY- Geneseo and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Syracuse University in Cultural Anthropology in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Tracy Trachsler, Ph.D., joined the College in August 2016 as assistant professor and program director for Sport Management. She has since overseen the Sport Management program’s further development, created an ESport initiative connecting academics and athletics; organized and lead an advisory board of industry professionals She has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Spanish from the University of Scranton and master’s and doctoral degrees from Springfield College. She previously was assistant athletic director of the Athletic Department and Senior Woman Administrator at SUNY- Cortland, a teaching fellow at Springfield College, a visiting assistant professor in Sport Management at SUNYCortland, and a pitching and softball coach at both Cortland and Springfield. Cazenovia College Magazine: Winter/Spring 2021 13
