Horizons Student Support Services A TRIO Program

2023-24 Annual Report

Mission Statement

Horizons Student Support Services: A TRIO Program* assists students develop academic, social, personal and leadership skills through holistic services including tutoring, faculty mentoring, peer mentoring, career development, academic support, cultural enrichment and access to global experiences. These initiatives, coupled with fostering a sense of belonging, contributes to a well-rounded and successful student experience at Purdue University.

*TRIO is a federally funded program that was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1968.  Horizons is funded to support 340 students.

Vision Statement

The vision of Horizons Student Support Services: A TRIO Program is to retain and graduate participants from Purdue University at the highest possible rate with the highest possible grade point.

Program Elements

Through a comprehensive suite of services, Horizons ensures students can develop a holistic set of academic, social, personal and leadership skills that contribute to their overall success. These services include: 

  • EDPS 490 Horizons Global Leadership Initiative: This three-week course provides 20 students the opportunity to participate in a summer semester abroad during the May semester at a reduced rate. In financial partnership with the Office of Study Abroad, the course promotes global awareness, changes students’ perceptions, and addresses misconceptions of other people and cultures in an all-inclusive experience. The Office of Global Partnerships provides an annual subsidy of $50,000.00, and Horizons awards $10,000.00 in supplemental grant aid to further reduce costs associated with study abroad experience.
  • Supplemental Academic Advising: Horizons advising is available to students from their first year through graduation and provides solution-oriented supplemental advising in all aspects of educational planning—including course planning, study skills, GPA management and referrals.
  • Career Support and Graduate School Preparation: These services support students choosing their majors and preparing for post-collegiate careers. Students also have access to graduate school preparation, support and planning. Referral services to the Center for Career Opportunities are also available.
  • Tutoring: Horizons offers its students free one-on-one and group-based tutoring in all core math, science and foreign language courses. Support for subjects can be made available on a case-by-case basis.
  • Accountability Groups: Accountability groups are available to students who need support with time management, study strategies, goal setting and motivation toward achieving goals. Horizons staff facilitate four weekly groups that are available to students their first year through graduation. Two groups focus on academics, and the remaining two focus on post-graduate planning and scholarship support for juniors and seniors. These accountability groups were inspired by those facilitated at the Helen Bass Williams Academic Success Center.
  • Faculty and Peer Mentoring: This program matches participants with a faculty or staff member who works in their preferred area of study. This mentor meets with the student during their first semester at Purdue to answer questions and provide support. Additionally, all Horizons first-year students partake in group peer mentoring led by trained upper-level Horizons students.
  • Financial Aid Assistance: Students enrolled in Horizons can meet with the program’s director, staff in the Division of Financial Aid or partners in the Boiler Financial Track program to get answers regarding FAFSA, work study, student loans and budgeting.

Our Story

Horizons Student Support Services: A TRIO Program is Indiana’s largest student support services TRIO Program. As a federally funded TRIO Program, Horizons was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1968. The name “TRIO” stands for the original three programs that were established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1965 as a result of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. These programs were the first national college access and retention programs meant to ensure equal educational opportunity for all Americans—regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstances. Horizons began serving eligible students at Purdue University in 1978. Originally, the program was under the Vice President of Student Affairs. However, in 2014, the program joined Student Success Programs in an effort to streamline processes and create synergies between similar programs. Today, Horizons is organizationally situated with Purdue Promise and 21st Century Scholars.

Program Objectives

Horizons will comply with the Department of Education’s (DOE) regulations for managing the program by addressing the following DOE-approved objectives:

  • 92% of all participants will persist from academic year to the beginning of the next academic year or graduate
  • 94% of all enrolled participants will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing at Purdue University
  • 75% of new participants served in the cohort year will graduate with a bachelor’s degree within six reporting years or less

Notable Changes

  • 2025-2030 TRIO Grant: Director Brittany Allensworth co-authored and submitted the Department of Education’s TRIO Student Support Services grant proposal for continued funding from 2025 through 2030.
  • Horizons in Costa Rica 2024: Twenty-three Horizons students participated in a challenging journey of self-reflection, leadership development and intercultural understanding during a trip to Heredia and San Jose, Costa Rica. Co-led by director Brittany Allensworth and assistant director Marquetta Strait, this global leadership and study abroad experience addressed the need to expand access to global educational opportunities for first-generation and low-income students, as well as other traditionally under-represented groups. The trip sought to directly address barriers to global access and provide students the opportunity to study abroad for a cost nearly 65% less than a traditional short-term study abroad program at Purdue.
  • Horizons Grant Aid: Horizons awarded a total of $21,000.00 in supplemental grant aid to students with unmet financial needs.
  • Leadership in TRIO:
    • Brittany Allensworth served as outgoing chair for the regional Educational Opportunity Association Scholarship Committee.
    • Brittany Allensworth served as co-chair for the statewide Indiana TRIO Annual Conference Committee.
    • Marquetta Strait served as a member of the statewide Indiana TRIO Annual Conference Committee.
  • First-Generation Day Celebration: To commemorate the annual First-Generation College Student Celebration Day on Nov. 8, 2023, Horizons facilitated a weeklong celebration that included an etiquette dinner, professional headshots, a soft skills development workshop in collaboration with Ascend Indiana and a mini research symposium where Horizons students showcased their research in preparation for the university-wide symposium. Horizons’ first-generation celebrations ended with a staff chili cook-off where students tasted and voted on their favorite dish. This event promoted communication amongst and between Horizons staff and students.
  • National TRIO Day: In partnership with ACE Campus Food Pantry, Horizons commemorated National TRIO Day on Feb. 24, 2023, with a “Day of Service” that included building hygiene kits for the Purdue community and a luncheon for students and staff to network.
  • Enrollment: Horizons welcomed 119 students (new, continuing and transfer) into the program.
  • Purdue Day of Giving: Horizons fundraised $2,230.00 through a total of 101 gifts. The program also earned bonus funding by placing second on the “Meet the Challenge Leaderboard.” The funds raised help Horizons meet the needs of participants and continue programming efforts.
  • Career Development and Graduate School Preparation:
    • A group of 15 Horizons students participated in an employer site visit at Azenta Life Sciences in Indianapolis. The students learned more about the company, toured the facility’s Biobank and lab, and learned more about career and internship opportunities.
    • A group of 27 Horizons students and two staff members traveled to St. Louis for a Graduate School and Cultural Enrichment experience. While there, students visited historical sites and landmarks such as the St. Louis Zoo, Busch Stadium and Gateway Arch. They also learned about the history of St. Louis on a fun trolley ride. Participants then visited the University of Missouri-St. Louis to learn more about their graduate school programs.
  • Indiana TRIO Student Leadership Conference: Horizons sponsored 15 students to attend the Indiana TRIO Student Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.
  • Horizons Staffing Changes:
    • Chelei Doud-Brooks was hired as Program Coordinator.
    • Samantha Gunther was hired as Senior Administrative Assistant.
  • Horizons Team Accomplishments: Director Brittany Allensworth received a Special Employee Recognition Award.

Our Data

For a full picture of our data from the 2023-24 academic year, please view or download our Full Annual Report by clicking the button below.

View Full Report