UofM student success programs will receive federal grant

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Memphis Student Success Programs (SSP) a $2,255,525 grant to provide services targeted toward improving retention and graduation rates of first-generation, low-income and disabled students through its TRIO programs.

In addition to helping under-resourced students to stay in college until they earn their bachelor’s degrees and minimizing student loan debt, SSP provides academic monitoring, financial aid assistance, literacy programs, cultural enrichment, help with graduate school enrollment, and remedial instruction through a summer bridge program. SSP works to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of targeted participants who have an academic need by providing educational opportunities, giving attention to individual needs and emphasizing academic excellence.

TRIO is a set of federally funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. Some 790,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities — from sixth grade through college graduation — are served by more than 2,800 programs nationally. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance and other support necessary for educational access and retention.

For more information, visit their website.