SUNY Potsdam Awarded $1.5 Million Federal TRiO Grant for Student Support Services

Federal Program Serves More Than 200 SUNY Potsdam Students Each Year

POTSDAM, NY (08/03/2015)(readMedia)-- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $1.5 million to SUNY Potsdam through the federal TRiO program, which will be disbursed over the next five years.

The College has once again received funding for the Student Support Services program, which provides opportunities for academic development, offers assistance with basic college requirements and motivates students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.

"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.

SUNY Potsdam has been awarded $279,330 for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Overall, the College will realize $1.5 million between now and 2020 for the program.

"I am absolutely delighted that the U.S. Department of Education agrees with us that TRiO SSS makes a difference at SUNY Potsdam. This award reinforces the work that we do, and confirms the commitment to academic excellence, to which we all subscribe," said Mark Millward '09, the director of the College's program. "I am proud to be a part of 'Team TRiO' and to work with such a dedicated group of education professionals."

The federal TRiO programs are national outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. 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.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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