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Campus News

University at Albany Receives TRIO Funding

(May 6, 2005)

The University at Albany is one of three area institutions that will receive more than $200,000 per year for four years in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program.

Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) said, "The TRIO Student Support Services Program provides grants to institutions of higher education for projects to increase the retention and graduation rates of low-income and first-generation college students, including those with disabilities, create an institutional climate supportive of their success, and help them transfer from two-year to four-year institutions of higher learning."

The University's Project Excel will receive a total of $942,756 through this grant. Grantee schools may use up to 20 percent of the total grant funds for direct grant aid to eligible students. Fulton-Montgomery Community College will receive $220,000 a year over four years, and Schenectady County Community College was awarded $267,986 a year for four years.

"I can think of no other national program that has had a greater and better impact on bringing historically underrepresented students into the mainstream of higher education than the TRIO Program," said UAlbany President Kermit L. Hall. "It is designed to reach out to and retain those students who otherwise might have missed academic success in higher education, which is key to greater successes in life, both professionally and personally. When they succeed, UAlbany succeeds."

Carson Carr, Jr., associate vice president for Academic Affairs and director of the Educational Opportunities Program, said, "This Student Support Services grant will allow us additional academic support programming to help 160 economically disadvantaged students and first-generation college students satisfy their goal of a college education. This University has a long and distinguished history in supporting low-income students, and this grant will enhance our legacy. We are honored to receive this renewal grant."

The 160 students are low-income, matriculated, non-EOP undergraduates in need of additional academic support. They are served by Project Excel, which is coordinated by Chris Fernando in the Office of Academic Support Services. Carr and Fernando applied for the grant. In addition to these students, 145 EOP freshmen join UAlbany each year.

The grant may be used to provide the following services to undergraduates: instruction in reading, writing, study skills and mathematics; personal counseling; academic advising and assistance in course selection; exposure to cultural events and academic programs; activities to acquaint students with a range of available career options; mentoring programs; and helping students secure admission and financial aid for enrollment in graduate and professional programs.