With the dismantling of the U.S Department of Education and colleges and universities, along with student loan forgiveness, under attack, there is some good news: SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla has received a $306,514 grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. The funding expands support for students who are low-income, first-generation or disabled – aiming to improve retention, graduation and transfer rates.
Trio programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program) help students overcome academic and socioeconomic barriers to higher education. Trio services include assistance in choosing a college, applying to college and for financial aid and tutoring; personal, financial and career counseling; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills and mathematics; and academic help in high school or help in reentering high school or college.
These comprehensive supports significantly increase the likelihood that students will graduate or transfer to a four-year college, with reduced debt. Since 2000, when SUNY WCC became involved with the program, Trio has served more than 1,000 students, helping them stay enrolled, complete degrees and build meaningful careers.
“This grant allows SUNY Westchester Community College to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all students — regardless of background — can thrive academically and personally,” said SUNY WCC President Belinda Miles, Ed.D. “SUNY WCC Trio is a key contributor to the doubling of our graduation rate as we prioritize student success and completion.”
Nationally, the Trio SSS program has a proven track record. A 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education found that students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year institution, compared to peers not in the program. At four-year institutions, SSS students were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“Trio programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”
The Trio programs are funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ,which has aimed to remove social, academic and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its inception in 1968, SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and the economy.
Notable alumni of Trio SSS include Michael Cashman, town supervisor of Plattsburgh, New York; former NASA astronaut José Hernández; and Cheryl Johnson, 36th clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, WCC provides more than 20,000 full-time and part-time students with an education taught by award-winning faculty at one of the lowest tuition rates in New York state. The college has more than 65 degree and certificate programs, including innovative programs in such high-demand fields as cybersecurity, health information technology, respiratory therapy, and digital filmmaking. SUNY WCC also reflects the rich diversity of its region and was the first SUNY campus to be designated a Hispanic Serving Institution.
