The U.S. Department of Education has awarded NDSU a $2.5 million Student Support Services grant to assist low-income, first-generation students or students with disabilities. The grant is for NDSU students working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree, or pursuing other post-graduate aspirations.
“We are very excited about this grant,” said Scott Norenberg, interim director of NDSU Student Support Services. “Grants like this demonstrate that the U.S. Department of Education not only recognizes the importance of supporting our students, but that the support we offer makes a difference.”
Student Support Services offers eligible NDSU students several free services. Students gain access to education specialists, individual tutoring, peer mentoring, graduate school preparation, career exploration, supplementary instruction, direct financial support and several other services.
If you are a student who qualifies, or you know someone who qualifies, please apply at the NDSU Student Support Services website.
Student Support Services are part of the Federal TRIO programs. TRIO is a set of college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. More than 800,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities — from sixth grade through college graduation — are served by over 3,100 programs nationally. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. TRIO programs provide direct support services for students, and relevant training for directors and staff.
The TRIO programs were the first national college access and retention programs to address the serious social and cultural barriers to education in America. Previously only college financing had been on policymakers' radar. TRIO began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. The Educational Opportunity Act of 1964 established an experimental program known as Upward Bound. Then, in 1965, the Higher Education Act created Talent Search. Finally, another program, Special Services for Disadvantaged Students (later known as Student Support Services), was launched in 1968. Together, this “trio” of federally-funded programs encouraged access to higher education for low-income students.
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