Arkansas Tech University in Russellville has secured $2.7 million in federal grant funding to continue two federally backed Student Support Services (SSS) programs for the next five years.
The programs are aimed at improving academic outcomes and career readiness for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The two grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education under the TRIO initiative, will fund ATU’s SSS program and a second track focused on students aspiring to be teachers.
Each program will receive $272,364 annually through 2030, and supports about 140 students per program, per year.
SSS programs provide targeted academic and personal support to students who are first-generation college attendees or from low-income households. In addition to tutoring and academic advising, the programs help students navigate financial aid processes while also developing their professional communication and networking skills.
“Our job isn’t just focusing on academics,” Nichole Edwards, director of ATU’s SSS programs, said in a press release. “It’s about fostering belonging, building meaningful connections and helping students see they have what it takes to build a successful future. By walking alongside them, we help students turn uncertainty into confidence and ensure they have the tools they need to succeed in college and beyond.”
Since launching its TRIO SSS initiative in 2010, the program has helped 457 students earn bachelor’s degrees. The teacher preparation-focused SSS program, introduced in 2020, has guided another 191 students to graduation.
The programs also provide students with individual counseling aimed at improving their financial and economic literacy as well as assistance in exploring career and educational opportunities.
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