Fed grants to help low-income college students in Westchester

A federal program through the U.S. Department of Education is providing two Westchester County colleges with more than $532,000 to fund services for low-income students pursuing a degree in higher education.

Westchester Community College and Mercy College are among the recipients of the funding being made available through the new TRIO Student Support Services Program, according to an announcement from the office of U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey.

Valhalla-based Westchester Community College and Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry will receive $247,584 and $284,754, respectively, for five years to help a combined total of 415 students who are low-income, the first generation of their family to attend college, or have disabilities.

The money will be used to fund programs aimed at helping these students begin and successfully complete their college careers. Services that will be provided include workshops, financial aid and career planning assistance, tutoring and mentoring.

The Student Support Services federal program was created in 1968 as part of a trio of educational opportunity programs in the late 1960s to retain college students and increase graduation rates.