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SUNY Potsdam awarded $1.5 million federal grant to help disadvantaged students

Posted 8/3/15

POTSDAM -- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $1.5 million to SUNY Potsdam through the federal TRiO program of assistance to disadvantaged students in academics, financial literacy and …

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SUNY Potsdam awarded $1.5 million federal grant to help disadvantaged students

Posted

POTSDAM -- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $1.5 million to SUNY Potsdam through the federal TRiO program of assistance to disadvantaged students in academics, financial literacy and planning, graduate school and career preparation, and personal development.

"SUNY Potsdam is grateful for the continued support from the U.S. Department of Education, through its federal TRiO Student Support Services program, which will allow the college to offer comprehensive advising, guidance and support to more than 1,000 undergraduates over the course of this grant," President Kristin G. Esterberg said.

TRiO Student Support Services has been offered at SUNY Potsdam since 1984, and it serves more than 200 participants each academic year. The program provides academic assistance, financial literacy and planning guidance, graduate school and career preparation assistance and personal development support.

The money will be disbursed over the next five years

The college will get $279,330 for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

"I am absolutely delighted that the U.S. Department of Education agrees with us that TRiO SSS makes a difference at SUNY Potsdam,” said Mark Millward, the director of the college's program. “This award reinforces the work that we do, and confirms the commitment to academic excellence, to which we all subscribe. I am proud to be a part of 'Team TRiO' and to work with such a dedicated group of education professionals."

The federal Department of Education TRiO programs are national outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRiO includes eight programs, targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities with their progression through the academic pipeline, from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

Students are selected to participate in the TRiO program based on a request for assistance and federal eligibility. Participants must be U.S. citizens accepted for enrollment, with a demonstrated need for academic support. In addition, they must meet one or more of the following criteria: be a first-generation college student, fall within federal income eligibility limits and having a documented physical and/or learning disability.

For more information about TRiO Student Support Services at SUNY Potsdam, please visit www.potsdam.edu/support/ssc/sss.