Program part of federal ‘TRIO’ initiative shown to raise college retention, completion rates
From staff reports
The Technical College of the Lowcountry’s Student Support Services program (SSS) has been awarded a five-year grant worth more than $1.7 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Education.
Part of “TRIO” – a group of federally funded programs designed to increase the retention and completion rates of first-generation, income-eligible and differently-abled college students – TCL’s SSS program commits to serving 160 students annually.
“The Technical College of the Lowcountry is pleased to continue to receive this funding since TRIO programs have been shown to directly impact the overall success and retention rates of eligible students,” TCL President Dr. Richard Gough said in a news release. “Many of our students are first-generation and through SSS have gone on to achieve their academic goals and start successful careers.”
The grant operates on a five-year award cycle and was last awarded in 2020. The first installment of $348,537 will go toward SSS’s 2025-2026 program year with additional funding expected to total approximately $1,742,685 over the life of the grant.
TCL has participated in the federal program for over a decade, with a strong record of student-centered impact and institutional commitment, said Starr Hayes, TCL’s TRIO SSS program director.
“This funding reaffirms the vital work we are doing to help students overcome barriers and achieve their educational goals,” she said.
Through SSS, students have access to academic and personal coaching, college transfer assistance and critical economic and financial literacy skills.
“TCL’s program has consistently exceeded federal expectations in persistence, good academic standing and graduation/transfer rates,” Hayes said. “By participating in the program, students are not only increasing their chances of success here at TCL or elsewhere, they are also adding to the local economy and that’s a win-win for everyone.”
To learn more about TRIO SSS at TCL, visit www.tcl.edu/sss.
