Student support services project: the program will increase the number of disadvantaged low-income, firstgeneration, and/or students with disabilities to successfully complete a post-secondary degree

North Iowa Area Community College received a $361,922 Project Grant award from the Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program (CFDA 84.042) on September 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for August 31, 2026. The award funds a Student Support Services Project designed to increase the number of disadvantaged, low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities who successfully complete post-secondary degrees at the institution located in Mason City, Iowa.

The program delivers comprehensive supportive services to enhance student academic success and retention. The TRIO Student Support Services Program provides targeted assistance to help enrolled students increase their potential for degree completion and improve transfer rates from two-year to four-year institutions. Services typically encompass academic advising, financial literacy education, tutoring, and counseling to address the specific needs of the targeted student populations. This one-year funding cycle represents the College's continued participation in the federal TRIO program, which maintains a standard project period structure with potential for multi-year continuation awards based on demonstrated progress and fund availability.