Illinois college trio student support services project

Illinois College received a $272,364 Project Grant from the Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program (CFDA 84.042), awarded on September 1, 2025, with a completion date of August 31, 2026. The project provides comprehensive supportive services to low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities at the college's Jacksonville, Illinois campus. The SSS Program is designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for disadvantaged students through targeted interventions that increase student retention, graduation rates, and successful transfers from two-year to four-year institutions.

Under this award, Illinois College will deliver academic support, financial literacy assistance, and student success programming to enhance the academic potential and overall postsecondary completion rates of eligible student populations. These services align with the federal program's core objective of improving access to and completion of higher education for disadvantaged students. The one-year grant period supports the continuation of ongoing TRIO services at the institution, with annual continuation awards subject to demonstration of progress toward program objectives and fund availability.