Madonna University receives TRIO Student Support Services grant from US Department of Education

Madonna University has received $1.3 million in funding from the US Department of Education as a TRIO Student Support Services grant. The TRIO SSS program at Madonna University has existed since 1978, and this continuation of funding will allow the university to continue providing specialized support services for individuals who are first-generation college students, those who come from low-income backgrounds, or those with disabilities. The goal of the program is to increase student success through improved retention and graduation rates.

According to an article on Madonna University’s website, Christopher Dougherty, Ph.D., the president of the university, was quoted as saying of the TRIO SSS program, “The TRIO SSS program is woven into the fabric of Madonna University’s exceptional history and tradition of meeting our students’ needs and promoting opportunity for student achievement and success. For students enrolled in the program, we are able to provide a comprehensive range of services to help them thrive academically and personally.  I am grateful to the TRIO SSS team at Madonna for all they do!”

The services offered via Madonna University’s TRIO SSS program include mentoring, academic tutoring, academic and personal counseling, assistance with scholarships and financial aid, and career exploration services. These services help students overcome barriers they may experience throughout their college education journey by providing them with the kind of assistance that will encourage and empower them to stay in school and earn their degree.

There are eight TRIO programs that were established under the Higher Education Act of 1965, including Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. All of these programs assist students in overcoming any challenges that could keep them from finishing school.

The TRIO SSS program has been notably successful in this goal, with a 2019 study by the US Department of Education finding that students who participate in this particular program are 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year college compared to eligible students who do not participate in the program.

Speaking of the program’s success, Kimberly Jones, who serves as the president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C., said, “TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates. This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”

For more information about Madonna University, visit the school’s website.