WSU Tri-Cities Secures $2.7 Million in Federal Grants for Student Support
Washington State University Tri-Cities has received two federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants, amounting to a total of $2,723,640, from the U.S. Department of Education. This funding aims to improve college retention and graduation rates for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities over the next five years. These grants continue a legacy of 15 years of TRIO SSS services on the campus, which have already benefited hundreds of students.
The two grants, known as SSS Classic and STEM, provide a range of individualized services designed to support students academically and personally. Offerings include academic tutoring, financial aid guidance, career exploration, and mentoring. By helping students navigate barriers to their education, TRIO SSS significantly enhances their chances of completing degrees or successfully transferring to other institutions with minimal debt.
Anna Plemons, the associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at WSU Tri-Cities, emphasized the importance of TRIO in the university’s comprehensive support strategy. “I have witnessed firsthand how TRIO works, and I look forward to seeing the positive and lasting impact these two grants have on our campus and our community over the next five years,” she stated.
The impact of TRIO extends beyond administrative support. Alondra Castaneda, director of TRIO at WSU Tri-Cities, reflected on the program’s role in enhancing student success. “We are dedicated to our scholars’ success, and TRIO plays a critical role in empowering and unlocking that potential. Our scholars are the embodiment of resilience and determination,” she remarked.
Students in the TRIO program have expressed appreciation for the resources available to them. One student noted, “I benefit the most from knowing I can reach out to a specific person on the TRIO Team about anything, and they are on my side and willing to work hard to find answers for me.”
The TRIO SSS program has demonstrated its effectiveness on a national scale. A 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education found that students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school. Moreover, students at four-year institutions were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to peers not in the program.
Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, highlighted the transformative impact of TRIO programs. “TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” she said. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”
The SSS program is one of eight federal TRIO initiatives funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965, aimed at removing social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its launch in 1968, SSS has supported millions of low-income, first-generation students in successfully graduating from college, thereby contributing to their communities and the broader economy.
Notable alumni of the TRIO SSS program include Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, NY; former NASA astronaut José Hernández; and Cheryl Johnson, the 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Washington State University Tri-Cities, interested individuals can contact Alondra Castaneda at [email protected].
