This year, the Council for Opportunity in Education’s (COE) annual Policy Seminar includes three events: the Leadership Summit, the Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, and the Legislative Conference. It's time to elevate the TRIO programs to a higher level of support and impact, so our current collaboration and collective action is critical. Join a diverse group of stakeholders who support TRIO for this four-day event and help bring about positive change in the current state of our programs.

Leadership Summit • Sunday, March 17, 2024

Keeping in theme, this year’s Leadership Summit will provide high-quality professional development for all levels of leaders in TRIO to assist them in their efforts to Level UP! At the summit, we will focus on the connection between your efforts and how you can create layers of impact to enhance your work. Additionally, we will feature a case study poster session and presentations by state leaders who have completed this year’s Executive Leadership Institute. Whether you are new to TRIO or a seasoned professional, this day-long convening will provide you with skills and resources to level up your impacts with your participants, in your program, through your state organizations, and within yourselves. With questions about the Leadership Summit, please contact Jen Rudolph at [email protected].

IMPORTANT NOTE: Neither the Leadership Summit nor the Seminar on Relations with the Department of Education will involve lobbying activities. They are allowable costs on a federal award; however, certain aspects of the Legislative Conference will involve such activity. Therefore, federal grantees must allocate expenses for these activities appropriately and consistently with their institutional policies.  Contact Angelica Vialpando at [email protected] or Jen Rudolph at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education • Monday, March 18, 2024  

This seminar for college access and success professionals in post-secondary institutions and community agencies provides information about the following: 

• U.S. Department of Education fiscal and programmatic policies and reporting requirements
• The latest information on TRIO regulations and
• The outlook for upcoming TRIO grant competitions

For questions on the Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, please contact Angelica Vialpando at [email protected].

Legislative Conference • Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18-20, 2024
 
The capstone feature of COE’s Policy Seminar is the Legislative Conference, during which the TRIO community educates Members of Congress, congressional staff, and others about the history and the success of federal college access and success programs. After a day of intense preparation, participants can represent the interests of low-income and first-generation students and students with disabilities through direct engagement with legislators in the policy arena.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All congressional meetings will be held in person on Capitol Hill unless anyone from a Congressional District is physically present at the Legislative Conference. For questions, please contact Diane Shust at [email protected].

• Bring your TRIO alumni to the Legislative Conference! Alumni participation at this event will give graduates the skills they need to be TRIO advocates at the local, state, and national levels. 

The conference hotel (Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill located at 400 New Jersey Avenue NW) is sold out. Please contact A Room With A View for information about the official designated COE overflow hotel. They will secure the lowest available rates at the best available hotels walking distance to The Hyatt Regency Hotel. A Room With A View can be reached at 1-800-780-4343 or online at [email protected] (always include your arrival & departure dates).
This is a FREE service for all COE attendees. Should rooms become available in the COE group block at The Hyatt Regency Hotel, A Room with A View will be contacting attendees to see if they would like to transfer to the conference hotel.

Refund Policy: Registration fees paid in advance are refundable (less the processing fee of $250) if written notice of cancellation is received on or before Thursday, February 29, 2024. Refund requests will only be accepted before this date. All refunds will be made after the seminar ends. Return by mail to Council for Opportunity in Education, P.O. Box 742282, Atlanta, GA 30374, or by email to [email protected].