Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) has been awarded a $361,922 federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help improve retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities.
This new award continues 32 years of TRIO SSS services across IECC campuses. Since the program’s launch in 1993, more than 6,000 students have benefited from its support, staying in school, earning degrees, and building meaningful careers.
The TRIO SSS program provides a wide range of individualized services, including academic tutoring, guidance on financial aid and scholarships, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring. These comprehensive supports are designed to help students overcome barriers to success, stay on track, and minimize debt as they pursue their degrees or prepare to transfer to four-year institutions.
TRIO SSS has a strong national track record. A 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education found that students in SSS at two-year colleges were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school. At four-year institutions, SSS students were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to similar peers not enrolled in the program.
IECC’s continued participation in the TRIO SSS initiative reinforces its commitment to educational equity and student achievement across its campuses.
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