By Michael Purtell
A beloved 60 year old program on Plattsburgh State’s campus has unexpectedly gotten the axe.
SUNY Plattsburgh has received notice of a cancellation of its TRIO Upward Bound grant, according to an email from Plattsburgh State President Dr. Alexander Enyedi. The Trump administration’s proposed budget for 2026 does not include any funding for TRIO federal grant programs placing the future status of programs across the nation in question.
Upward Bound is a program which aims to help prospective college students from all financial backgrounds make it to college campuses with academic and personal support. Plattsburgh’s grant serves more than 200 students annually, according to the email from Enyedi.
According to a release from SUNY Plattsburgh Director of TRIO Upward Bound Brian Post, the program received notice of the Sept. 30 cancellation Tuesday, Sept. 12. Post stated the reason given was that the program was “no longer in the best interest of the Federal Government.”
Enyedi and Post both wrote that the school has submitted a formal request for reconsideration to the Department of Education.
“While we are disappointed at the cancellation of this grant, SUNY Plattsburgh remains steadfast in our commitment to support students and advance upward mobility to help ensure New Yorkers are able to achieve their dreams and prosper,” Enyedi wrote.
As the end of September approaches, Post encouraged UB families and students to contact the U.S Congressional Representative for NY’s 21st district Elise Stefanik through her email or office phone to “let her know that the cancellation of TRIO Upward Bound at SUNY Plattsburgh is not only illegal, but will also have serious and lasting impacts on the futures of the students of the North Country.”
