Unit 3: Council for Opportunity in Education

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), founded in 1981, is a non-profit organization that works to "further the expansion of educational opportunities" to low-income students. In conjunction with colleges and universities that host TRIO programs, the organization endeavors to help students overcome "class, social, academic, and cultural barriers" (COE, 2009). With accessibility being one of the key focuses of higher education today, COE serves as a major speaker for the needs of low-income students as well as a help to ensure that these students "enter college and graduate." Accessibility issues make COE a very prevalent voice. Because COE is an organization mostly interested in furthering the interests of low-income students, it values their needs. "As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from families with incomes under $33,000, where neither parent graduated from college. More than 2,800 TRIO Programs currently serve nearly one million low-income students" (COE, 2009).

COE publishes a Fair Share State Report that displays the "budgetary responsibility needed for the Council to operate based on the relative number of TRIO projects in an area" (COE, 2009). It shows all sources of income to COE for each state. These sources include membership fees, donations, and state appropriations which all help to make college possible for low-income students.

Because COE seeks to provide financial resources that could be the determining factor for getting and keeping low-income students, they have a voice in deciding which student services programs are worthy of funding. The types of programs that COE finances are another source of "free" money for students who suffer "class, social, academic, and cultural barriers" because of their income status. Some Student Support Services programs provide money for gas, babysitting, and other services that low income students cannot otherwise afford AND attend school. COE makes a way for this and even sponsors field trips for students to gain cultural exposure. The tutoring that assists students in learning can also be through Student Support Services by COE. While most other financial aid money can only be used for tuition, fees, and books, COE has the flexibility to pay for those "costs" that have to be covered in order for a low-income student to go to college and succeed.

The Council for Opportunity in Education (2009). Retrieved on October, 21, 2009, from http://www.coenet.us//ecm/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home