Student Support Services Secures 5-Year Grant

David Saylor • October 17, 2025

Union Commonwealth University’s Student Support Services (SSS) program has been awarded a nearly $2 million TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education, securing funding for the next five years to support underserved and underrepresented students in post-secondary education. This support will come in the form of tutoring services, disability accommodations, cultural enrichment, and other services designed to help students overcome barriers to success in higher education.

“We have 182 students that we serve in SSS, and 25 of those are grant aid recipients,” said Robin Hamilton, Title III Navigator. “That means that they receive $1,000 in the spring semester, which helps with paying for school or anything else that they need.”

As with any federally funded initiative, accountability and impact are key. For that purpose, SSS records and monitors both retention and graduation rates. Currently, the program boasts an impressive 85% retention rate, which is higher than the national average of 82% reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and provides a strong foundation for improving the long-term goal of increased graduation rates. As part of these efforts, working closely with students to ensure that they maintain a satisfactory GPA is essential in that academic performance directly influences both retention and degree completion.

(PHOTO: Robin Hamilton)

In addition to academic support, SSS emphasizes strong collaboration across Union’s campus. For example, given that the student population is predominantly composed of athletes, maintaining open communication with coaching staff is crucial for monitoring academic progress and addressing concerns related to class attendance and performance. This is just one example of how effective on-campus communication allows SSS to intervene early when students face academic or personal challenges.

Looking ahead, SSS hopes to see the five-year grant approved once again at the end of the current grant cycle.

Hamilton explained, “A lot of universities and colleges were not funded this year, so we’re very fortunate to get it again.”

Considering the many different avenues that a fund like this can be used, it's no surprise that a lack of those funds can have just as drastic of an effect. Without it, many of the critical support systems that students rely on could be scaled back or lost entirely, leaving a gap that’s difficult to fill.

Ultimately, the renewal of the five-year grant is more than just a financial boost; it’s a reaffirmation of SSS’s mission to uplift and empower students who face systemic barriers to success. Hamilton shared, “We just want to keep making a positive difference. We want the kids to know we’re here for them. We support them. Not just now, but we want to see them grow after 3 college, have good careers. I think it's a huge win for us to get that back this year. We want to see those kids walk across the stage."

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