The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Shasta College a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling $348,514 a year for a total of $1,742,570 over five years to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. Shasta College TRIO SSS serves 180 first-generation low-income or disabled students who have the intent to transfer to a four-year college or university.
This award marks the continuation of 20 years of TRIO SSS services at Shasta College. The program has served students, helping them stay in school, earn degrees, and build meaningful careers.
Through individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers students to overcome barriers to success. These comprehensive supports make it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.
“This grant allows Shasta College to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all students—regardless of background—can thrive academically and personally,” said Dr. Tim Johnston, Vice President of Student Services. “TRIO Student Support Services helps level the playing field and equips our students with the tools and confidence to graduate and lead.”
Nationally, the TRIO SSS program has had great success. According to a rigorous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in TRIO SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school. Students at four-year institutions were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to similar peers not in the program.
“TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”
TRIO SSS is one of eight federal TRIO programs funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its inception in 1968, TRIO SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and the economy.
For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Shasta College, please contact Sue Huizinga, TRIO Director, at shuizinga@shastacollege.edu or 530-242-7690.
