Washington State University Pullman and Vancouver are establishing new TRIO student support programs thanks to grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.
WSU Pullman received $1.36 million, spread over five years, to begin a Student Support Services Program focused on serving students with disabilities, as well as under-resourced and first-gen students. The program will help 100 students each year.
“This is an opportunity to provide students with disabilities comprehensive, high-touch, wrap-around services designed just for them,” said Lucila Loera, director for the Office of Access and Opportunity in Student Affairs.
WSU is experiencing significant growth in the number of students with disabilities, and Loera said the SSS Disabilities program will help lead and advance efforts that support their success.
Specific programming and activities will include academic advising, financial coaching, career development, tutoring, and academic enriching activities.
Loera said research conducted for the grant proposal revealed that many students with disabilities advance well into their college journey before succumbing to a variety of different challenges — whether they be academic, financial, or environmental. The new program will work to identify and address those challenges so more students cross the finish line and graduate.
The program will be co-located with the campus’ Student Support Services Classic Program in Lighty Student Services Building 260 (Office for Access & Opportunity) and will work closely with the Student Accommodations and Disability Resources Center.
Aligning with campus mission, community needs
Serving students with disabilities is also a focus for WSU Vancouver’s new Student Support Services Classic program, which includes first-generation and under-resourced students.
Domanic Vanthom, vice chancellor for student affairs at WSU Vancouver, said the campus was awarded $1.36 million to operate the program for five years. It will serve 140 students annually.
“The number of first-gen students we have on this campus (about 50%) is a big point of pride for us,” Vanthom said. “Having a program that focuses on the success of first-gen students aligns with our campus’ mission and the needs of our community. It’s fantastic.”
Among the program’s goals will be to improve the year-to-year retention rate, increase the number of students in good academic standing, as well as increase the six-year graduation rate for these student populations.
Having a program that focuses on the success of first-gen students aligns with our campus’ mission and the needs of our community. It’s fantastic.
Domanic Vanthom, vice chancellor for student affairs
WSU Vancouver
Vanthom said landing SSS Classic is part of a broader goal to help students transition to college, succeed and graduate from WSU, and go to graduate school. Since 2021 WSU Vancouver has offered the TRIO Talent Search program, which promotes college readiness in Hudson Bay and Fort Vancouver high schools.
“Talent search has allowed us to grow the pipeline of eligible students going to college,” Vanthom said. “Now we have a program that will receive and retain them when they come to WSU.”
The final step, said Vanthom, will be to apply for the Ronald E. McNair program, which prepares undergraduates for graduate school. Applications can be submitted in 2029–30.
From a system perspective, WSU has one of the best track records in the nation for attracting and managing TRIO programs.
In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Education renewed grants for six WSU TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs, allowing them to continue their critical work for another five years. The awards totaled $8.2 million, and the programs serve a combined 800 students annually.
