Funds channeled to UM campuses

Montana's congressional delegation recently helped funnel $3.92 million in federal funds to 14 Montana colleges and universities. Of that, about $624,000 has been earmarked for UM campuses in Missoula and Dillon.

Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Denny Rehberg ensured that Montana got a share of U.S. Department of Education TRIO Programs funding. TRIO Programs are designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

TRIO includes six outreach and support programs targeted to assist low-income, first-generation college students, as well as students with disabilities.

UM and UM-Western both received four-year grants, with $388,120 going to UM and $235,689 going to Western.

Additional information about TRIO can be found online at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html .