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.”

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."