Pathways for success (trio student support services) in rural appalachia: ensuring studentsuccess and completion

Allegany College of Maryland received a $272,364 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education on September 1, 2025, under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program (CFDA 84.042). This one-year award, with a completion date of August 31, 2026, funds the "Pathways for Success" initiative, which delivers comprehensive supportive services to disadvantaged college students in rural Appalachia. The program provides targeted interventions designed to enhance student retention and graduation rates, improve academic performance, and increase transfer rates from two-year to four-year institutions. Services include academic support, financial literacy education, and other student success resources tailored to low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities.

The award directly supports Allegany College of Maryland's mission to serve the rural Appalachian region by strengthening educational access and completion for vulnerable student populations. As a state-controlled institution positioned in Cumberland, Maryland, the college leverages this federal funding to remove barriers to postsecondary education completion and enhance the overall potential of disadvantaged students enrolled in its programs. This grant represents a continuation of the college's established commitment to TRIO SSS programming and aligns with broader federal initiatives to increase postsecondary education attainment and workforce development in underserved regions.