Dr. Charles Davis, Chancellor, and Dr. Albert Lozano-Nieto, Director of Academic Affairs, are pleased to announce the renewal from the United States Department of Education of the TRIO Student Support Services Grant for the 2015-2020 grant cycle.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre's TRIO SSS program is an initiative encouraging the academic and professional development of students since its inception in 1997 with the first TRIO grant awarded to the campus. The TRIO grant will provide the campus with $281,510 for each of the five years in the cycle to fund the expenses associated with the program.
"The SSS grant process is competitive, with close to 1,500 applicants contending for just over 1000 awards," explains Lozano-Nieto. "Penn State Wilkes-Barre is one of 23 Pennsylvania colleges selected to receive the funding for this cycle."
The Penn State Wilkes-Barre SSS program serves 160 students. Participants must be first-generation students, low-income students, or students with disabilities. Eligible students have access to a variety of experiences including academic coaching, career, financial, and life-skills workshops, tutoring, book resource program, cultural experiences, mentors, and a community of supportive faculty, staff, and peers. All services and events are free of charge to participants. These measures help the students make a smooth transition from high school to college, and help to increase participants' grade point averages, retention, and graduation rates.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide these services to our students for another five years," states Patricia Staskiel, SSS Program Coordinator. "SSS students are active in our program, they participate in a wide range of campus clubs and organizations, and if they choose to complete their degree at another Penn State campus, they are more than prepared to make the move and succeed."
Penn State Wilkes-Barre provides a world-renowned university in a smaller, more intimate setting. Dedicated staff and teachers have helped students of all ages since the campus' inception in 1916 and continue to provide excellent education and support. Penn State Wilkes-Barre boasts eight Bachelor's degrees and four Associate's degrees and the ability to start one of over 160 degrees at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and continue at another campus.
