Gateway Technical College received a federal grant to continue its TRiO Student Support Services program, an effort that assists colleges offering programming to low-income and students with disabilities and those who are the first in their families to attend college.

The U.S. Department of Education, funded through the TRiO Student Support Services grant, awarded Gateway 100 percent of project funding in an annual amount of $220,000, or $1.1 million in total for the five-year grant period.

The grant will help Gateway to implement student support services for students with disabilities to increase the retention, graduation and transfer rates of those students displaying the need for academic support.

The award represents a continuation of the five-year TRiO grant Gateway received in 2010. The college was awarded the new grant, in part, because of its success working with students from 2010-15.

The TRiO program benefits students by guiding them through the academic process. TRiO specialists will work one-on-one with students with disabilities to help them adjust to the demands of college. Tutoring and support will be provided to move students toward graduation and the potential of continuing their education at a four-year college.  TRiO specialists will work to coordinate events and activities for program participants.

The grant money will be used on projects that provide tutoring; course selection help; student success resources; financial aid and scholarship assistance; financial and economic literacy counseling; help with admission to the college; and enrollment assistance for students making the transition from two-year institutions to four-year programs.

This newest grant continues the successful work done by the college in its first TRiO grant program, which ended this year.