Central lakes college student support services

Central Lakes College, operating under Minnesota State Colleges & Universities, received a $291,225 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program (CFDA 84.042) for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. This award funds comprehensive support services designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for disadvantaged college students, including low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities at the Brainerd, Minnesota campus.

The grant supports student support services that increase retention and graduation rates while facilitating transfer pathways from two-year to four-year institutions. Key service areas include academic advising, financial literacy programming, and holistic student success initiatives that enhance academic potential and overall educational completion for underrepresented student populations. These services align with the federal TRIO program's core objective to increase postsecondary education access, affordability, and completion rates among disadvantaged students.