Western carolina university student support services stem project proposal

Federal Grant Award Summary

Western Carolina University received a $272,364 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education on September 25, 2025, under the TRIO Student Support Services program (CFDA 84.042). The grant supports a one-year project period concluding September 24, 2026, and funds the delivery of comprehensive student support services designed to enhance retention and graduation rates for disadvantaged college students at the university's Cullowhee, North Carolina campus.

Under this award, Western Carolina University provides on-campus tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, and financial aid assistance to low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities pursuing STEM majors. The program delivers workshops and supportive services intended to increase student retention, graduation rates, and successful completion of postsecondary education programs. Additionally, the services foster an institutional climate supporting underrepresented student populations and enhance participants' financial and economic literacy.