DEED Grant Supports Expansion of TREC Program

Minneapolis College has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to expand its Transformation and Re-entry through Education and Community program (TREC). 

Founded in 2021, TREC is a partnership among Minneapolis College, Metro State University, the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Corrections (MnDOC), Lino Lakes Correctional Facility and Stillwater Correctional Facility, providing eligible incarcerated students, and those who are released, the opportunity to achieve a two-year associate degree at no cost. TREC participants can elect to enroll in a Metro State bachelor’s degree program after completing their associate degree. 

Thanks to the grant, TREC will be expanded to include a new re-entry program, and a dedicated, full-time career navigator position.

The re-entry program will go beyond services currently offered such as academic aid advising and scholarship resources and expand to helping individuals acclimate to college and campus life after release from a correctional facility. Facilitated by TREC students and alumni, the five-week program will focus on mental health by helping students to build skills in emotional intelligence, personal care, social networking, and communication with family and friends. Re-entry program participants also will be eligible to receive food and housing support while attending the College.

The career navigator will be hired to work directly with Minneapolis College students incarcerated at Stillwater and Lino Lakes as well as eligible TREC participants to provide career exploration guidance, career counseling, resume and cover letter critiques, interview coaching and interview clothing referrals.

“Our TREC students are highly skilled college graduates who are often overlooked because of background checks and hiring discrimination,” said Matthew Polumbo, Minneapolis College TREC Coordinator. “This grant will provide direct resources and hands-on career navigation, so they have the best chance at securing living wage jobs and ensuring their lifelong freedom.”

The primary group served by the TREC program are students coming to Minneapolis College from the Lino Lakes and Stillwater correctional facilities. Some students start college courses while incarcerated, while others enroll upon release. TREC is open to students coming from any state or federal correctional facility in Minnesota who are within six months of release, have been released, or are on work release. 
 
Minneapolis College is an open enrollment institution. To be eligible to apply and to be accepted to TREC, a GED or High School diploma is required. A lottery system is used if capacity is reached.

Minneapolis College is one of 13 Minnesota organizations to be awarded the Pilot Re-Entry Competitive Grant from DEED for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Selections were made through a competitive process involving DEED, Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) staff, and volunteer community reviewers. Funding for this pilot program came from the state's Workforce Development Fund. 

For more information, visit the TREC news webpage.