Alabama State University issued the following announcement on Aug. 28.
Alabama State University is the recipient of a $294,725 U.S. Department of Education Student Support Services (SSS) grant, an award that will help more students succeed and graduate from ASU.
The director of the University's TRIO program, Dr. Acquanetta M. Pinkard, says that this new federal grant is $9,967 over ASU's previous TRIO award.
"Alabama State has been successful at receiving this funding for the last 20 years and it has allowed us to serve, help and graduate thousands of students," Pinkard said. "To put it in perspective, this grant will allow ASU to serve over 160 low-income, first-generation college students enrolled with us during the fall semester alone."
HOW TRIO'S SSS HELPS STUDENTS
The SSS program helps college students who are low-income, first-generation (those whose parents do not have a four-year college degree) and disabled students stay in school and graduate. The array of services the grant will provide are comprehensive and will include academic tutoring, financial aid advice, career and college mentoring, help in choosing courses, and other forms of assistance.
"These kinds of services enhance academic success and make it more likely that students will graduate or transfer with the lowest possible debt," Pinkard said. She added that many ASU Student Support Services alumni have gone on to great success, among them, Marcus Henderson, a renowned Hollywood actor.
Renowned Hollywood actor Marcus Henderson is an ASU alumnus and a TRIO SSS graduate.
ABOUT THE SSS PROGRAM
The SSS program began in 1968 and is one of the eight federal “TRIO” Programs authorized by the Higher Education Act, which is intended to help college students succeed in higher education. It recognizes that students whose parents do not have a college degree have more difficulties navigating the complexity of decisions that college requires for success. It also bolsters students from low-income families who have not had the academic opportunities that their college peers have had and helps students with disabilities, removing obstacles preventing them from thriving academically.
Pinkard said that the SSS grant for ASU's TRIO program allows the University to help these students here on campus, keeps them in school and works to see that they graduate from the University.
"This program does my heart good. Once a student walks across the stage at graduation, I know that our University and its TRIO program has done its job and helped send another graduate on the road to success," Pinkard exclaimed.
Original source can be found here.
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