USI TRIO SSS Program awarded funding through 2024-25

The University of Southern Indiana's TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program has been awarded more than $1.3 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to continue operation through the 2024-25 Academic Year.

"For 10 years, the Student Support Services Program has been motivating and serving students so that they can successfully complete their degree requirements here at USI," said Brody Broshears, Assistant Vice President for Academic Success. "Since 2009, the program has had a major impact on more than 1,000 students. I am proud of their work and look forward to working with them over the next five-year cycle."

Housed in University Division and funded by a renewable, five-year competitive grant from the Department of Education, USI's TRIO SSS Program provides students free comprehensive services through classroom instruction, academic skill development, academic assistance and career development, personal and financial aid counseling, and experiences designed to enhance the collegiate experience. The program employs three full-time staff and more than 20 student peer mentors.

At the end of the 2018-19 Academic Year, the program saw 98% of its participants maintain good academic standing and 61% graduate within six years. Within the 2015-19 grant cycle, the program has published a book co-authored by students, organized an immersive learning trip to China in 2018, maintained a comprehensive peer mentoring program for incoming freshmen and expanded access to local Evansville historical experiences for program participants.

"Over the past year, our students have lost loved ones, lost resources and at times lost hope, but they never lost the support from their University," said Aaron Pryor, Program Director for USI Student Support Services. "Our program was able to support our students through the initial transition and will continue to be here to serve our participants holistically through the upcoming year, the next five years and hopefully many more to come."

For more information about USI's SSS Program, visit USI.edu/university-division/student-support-services.