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ɫAV’s Hanser and team present TRIO research at LASAP Conference

Published April 22, 2024

Hanser

CAPTION:(L-R): David Chism, Daniel Carson, Dr. Robert Hanser, Fred Louis


MONROE, LA On March 5, 2024, Robert Hanser, Ph.D., in conjunction with ɫAV graduate students Fred Louis, Daniel Carson, and David Chism, presented preliminary findings on “Student Perceptions of TRIO Services: An Examination of Diversity, Mental Health, and COVID Considerations” at the Louisiana Association of Student Assistance Programs 52nd Annual Conference (LASAP) in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The purpose of the study is to determine student perceptions of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) received at the University of Louisiana Monroe during the 2021 to 2023 academic period. The study utilized ɫAV’s TRIO student outcome data in combination with survey data to examine aspects unique from standard academic data annually collected, thus providing a richer and more comprehensive evaluation of student experiences.

Dr. Hanser, ɫAV’s Criminal Justice Program and Graduate Coordinator, stated, "The LASAP Conference was an excellent experience that showcased programs to help disadvantaged students pursue their educational dreams and opportunities. Our research on the TRIO Program at ɫAV has provided data-driven guidance as to how we can better serve our consumer population whom we serve. Using research outcomes for this noble pursuit is both a personal and professional honor."

Dr. Hanser and his team sought to provide a comprehensive foundation for the TRIO study by utilizing Mr. Louis’s interest in Marriage and Family Therapy, Mr. Carson’s interest in Criminal Justice, and Mr. Chism’s studies in Psychology.

First-generation college students across the U.S. bring dedication, grit, and fresh perspectives to their higher education institutions. Many of them also face more academic and financial challenges than their continuing-generation peers. Though definitions of first-generation college students vary, TRIO-SSS considers students whose parents do not have four-year college degrees to be first-generation. Nationwide, about half of all college students are considered first-generation.

David Chism stated, “The LASAP conference was a wonderful convention that showed many of the advancements being made within the TRIO program. The research I have been able to do under the mentorship of Dr. Hanser has helped to show how much the students within TRIO at ɫAV enjoy the program. When looking into the data for this research, I originally believed that COVID would have been the primary cause of most of the depression and anxiety within modern college students, but it seems this rise began before the start of COVID."

The University of Louisiana Monroe's TRIO Programs Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) is a federally funded program designed to support and assist first-generation college students in successfully navigating college and obtaining their bachelor’s degree. TRIO-SSS offers a variety of services that include academic guidance and support, tutoring, graduate school preparation, financial aid assistance, and more. The TRIO-SSS Program aims to provide students with the tools and resources they need to succeed at ɫAV and achieve their career goals. The ɫAV TRIO-SSS Program assists participants in achieving success at ɫAV. The program strives to retain and matriculate students toward the successful completion of their baccalaureate degree by creating a model environment for student growth, retention, and diversity. Since the inception of the ɫAV TRIO-SSS in 2015, hundreds of first-generation college students have received assistance and support to remain in school and successfully complete their degrees. According to Dr. Catherine Estis, TRIO Executive Director, “The ɫAV TRIO-SSS program makes a direct impact in the lives of first-generation eligible students through ensuring successful navigation toward achieving a college degree.”

TRIO-SSS is one of the eight TRIO Programs fully funded through the U.S. Department of Education to assist first-generation, income-eligible students to remain in good academic standing and graduate from college. To learn more about the TRIO-SSS program or to apply, visit or stop by one of the ɫAV TRIO-SSS offices located in Sandel Hall 351 or Strauss Hall room 206 or reach out to them at 318.342.1097.