President’s Message

I am pleased to represent IMAEOPP as Chapter President for the 2008 year. In concert with the goals and objectives of MAEOPP and COE; I would like to see IMAEOPP grow in three major areas, affiliations, alumni, and public exposure. I feel these areas operate synergistically to provide potential resources for our organization, but more importantly the students that we impact in Indiana. 

We have already begun developing affiliations and coalitions with other TRiO-like agencies, such as Twenty-First Century Scholars, Indiana Pathways to College Network, Indiana College Access Network, and Indiana State Financial Aid Association. Through strength in numbers, by working with these groups we may have more influence  thus more impact on legislation that could lead to resources for first generation low-income students and those professionals that work with them.

TRiO alumni could be a significant resource for our organization. Many of our alum have directly benefited from TRiO services at all levels and are succeeding in our communities. By the alumni telling their own stories legislators and business leaders may become more sympathetic to the needs of current and future TRIO students in Indiana. Thus perhaps leading to more funding or in kind gifts to support our TRIO students

Lastly, by increasing public exposure has the ability to catapult TRiO to the top of the food chain when it comes to financial aid resources for our students and professionals at both the institutional and state level. We have witnessed similar if not duplicate programs to TRiO emerging in our state and in our institutions that promote access and retention for disadvantaged students. Similar programs are receiving public and private funding from institutions, such as universities, government agencies, as well as foundations and corporations that we could put to broadening our efforts. These same resources could be put into our thirty plus years of experience and knowledge working with this population in steady of reinventing the wheel.  By publicizing ourselves we can better inform our leaders of the good work that we do for the betterment of our students.

Additionally,  IMAEOPP can meet these goals by having another successful Student Leadership Conference in February where we can have our students meet state congressmen and legislators. Also, by having a successful alumni reception at the State Conference in May we can begin to attract and educate them on how they can support of our programs. IMAEOPP will also need to have another strong showing at the Policy Seminar in March in Washington D.C, where we professionals can get together with our congressmen and legislators to promote TRiO.

In order for our organization to achieve these goals, we will need to strengthen our policies and procedures, re-obtain our 501c3 status (non profit), and improve our overall membership participation. Your effort will be worthwhile; and if each of our 73 active members chose to take on at least one responsibility for the benefit of our association, there is no doubt in my mind that we will have a productive and successful year.