SEDALIA—The United States Department of Education has renewed State Fair Community College’s TRiO Student Support Services program grant for the upcoming year beginning Sept. 1.
The college will receive $246,859. It is anticipated the grant will be renewed for a total of five years to fund the federal program, which helps low-income, first-generation or disabled college students succeed at SFCC and then transfer to complete four-year degrees.
SFCC received the full amount requested in its grant application, which was highly competitive, said Sonya Bowman, program director. This is SFCC’s fourth TRiO grant, she said.
SFCC President Dr. Joanna Anderson said the grant allows the college to continue serving both traditional and nontraditional students who need extra support to prepare for college courses.
“TRiO is a significant program in terms of what the college offers on an ongoing basis,” she said. “We were very fortunate to receive funding because dollars are always limited. I’m so proud of our dedicated staff who worked hard to make certain the program would be funded.”
Bowman said the entire college community supports the TRiO STEPS program.
“We serve 160 eligible students per year,” she said. “A lot of students depend on the program. When they fill out evaluations at the end of the year, many say they would never have finished their degrees here without the support they received. It’s very important for retaining students.”
The program, called Students in TRiO for Educational Preparation and Success (STEPS), provides academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation or disabled college students. It is designed to increase retention and graduation rates, facilitate transfer to four-year colleges and foster an institutional climate of support, said Bowman.
Services include instruction in study skills; tutoring; academic, financial and personal counseling; assistance in securing admission to and financial aid for enrollment in four-year institutions; guidance on career options; mentoring; and grant aid.
For more information, contact Bowman at (660) 596-7318, or email sbowman@sfccmo.edu.
