Mecc trio student support services

Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) received a $358,413 Project Grant award from the Office of Postsecondary Education, effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, to support the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program (CFDA 84.042). This federally funded initiative provides comprehensive supportive services to disadvantaged college students, including low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities, to enhance their academic potential and postsecondary educational outcomes.

The award supports MECC's delivery of student support services designed to increase retention and graduation rates among vulnerable student populations in its rural Appalachian service area. Key service components include academic advising, financial literacy training, and student success programming aimed at facilitating student transfers from two-year to four-year institutions. As a critical educational resource serving approximately 5,600 students annually in Southwest Virginia, MECC utilizes this funding to address regional challenges of high poverty and limited economic opportunities through enhanced educational access and student completion support.