By: Ruweyda Ali
At Cuyahoga Community College, programs such as TRIO Student Support Services and Project GO! are designed to help students manage various pressures so temporary barriers don’t become reasons to leave school. Though the two programs serve students differently, they respond to the same reality: college success often depends on more than academics alone. We talked to the representatives of both organizations to know more about their roles, services, and who they’re serving.
A student can attend classes, turn in assignments, and still struggle in ways no transcript will show. Rent may become overdue. Food assistance may be delayed. Work schedules can conflict with class time. Some students are also navigating college as the first in their family to do so. For many students, those challenges are not always visible in the classroom.
“Many students I work with are navigating challenges that are not immediately apparent to faculty or peers, including being first-generation college students, working full time, caring for family members, or managing financial insecurity,” said Lauren Lund, student liaison for TRIO Student Support Services at Western Campus [Ms. Lund served in this position till September 2026, and now she’s a part-time Adjunct Professor of English at Tri-C].
TRIO supports eligible students through academic coaching, advocacy, and connection to campus resources. Lund noted that students often need more than help with coursework, they may also need confidence, guidance, and reassurance that they belong in college.
“Over time, students begin to see themselves not just as someone trying to survive college, but as someone who belongs here and can succeed,” she added.
In her professional experience, what can sometimes look like disengagement may have another explanation. “What looks like a lack of motivation from the outside is often fear, exhaustion, or a lack of guidance behind the scenes,” Lund said.
That support can also become immediate and practical. During last fall’s government shutdown, she recalled that some students were anxious as delays affected the food assistance they relied on. In response, TRIO staff and student leaders created a Snack Stop at West campus, where one could find the donated breakfast items, lunch snacks, and hygiene products. What began as a short-term solution became a lasting resource.
Project GO! also addresses different barriers, focusing on financial and basic needs that can interrupt a student’s education.
Paige Crawford is a project manager with the Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Center at East Campus who helps oversee Project GO! She said the program began in 2011 after research showed students were dropping out of college for financial reasons.
“Project GO! was created to help alleviate some of those financial barriers so students could persist in college and graduate,” Crawford said.
The program expanded in late 2022 after Tri-C received a student basic needs grant. The funding added full-time staff, increased emergency assistance, and supported campus food pantries. Although the grant concluded at the end of 2025, Project GO! continues to serve students.
Housing remains a significant concern, and that’s one of the problems the program tries to improve for students. “Housing is a significant need that students are experiencing. There is little to no affordable housing across Cuyahoga County,” Crawford said.
She also pointed to the college’s emergency fund, which can provide eligible students with up to $500 per award year for urgent needs such as past-due bills, transportation or health issues, or job loss.
Students don’t always know where to turn, Crawford noted, and may not have time to search for resources while balancing classes and personal responsibilities. Staff help connect students with support they might not find otherwise.
Together, the two programs reflect a broader truth about student success: academic ability is only one part of staying enrolled. Stability, support, and guidance matter just as much.
“One important thing to know is that TRIO is not just a program; it is a community,” Lund said.
Students facing academic, financial, or personal challenges, may already find help on campus. In many cases, reaching out is the first step toward staying on track.
