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PULLMAN – The U.S. Department of Education will award WSU $223,496 a year for five years to continue the university’s Student Support Services program (SSS).
This is the third federal grant to support the WSU SSS program since its inception, said Lucila Loera, assistant vice president for enrollment management/research and external support.
“Given the current economic climate, this process was exceptionally competitive. We are excited to continue providing services to our current and future program participants,” said Loera.
WSU’s SSS program was established in 2001 to provide specialized assistance to first generation, low-income or disabled students. It is one of five federal TRiO academic assistance programs established by Congress under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The program serves 160 students in the Pullman campus. The goals of the program are to enhance program participants’ academic skills in order to increase their retention, academic achievement and graduation rates.
“WSU remains fully committed to providing a quality education that is not only affordable and accessible, but personal and encouraging,” said John Fraire, vice president for Enrollment Management at WSU. “Many of our students are first generation college students. Federal programs such as TRIO/Student Support Services are an important part of their education.”
“TRIO students at WSU are graduating in higher rates than the university as a whole,” said Loera. “Our program’s staff is committed to our participants achieving great success by assisting them in navigating any barriers that may arise along their journey toward graduation and beyond.”