Trio student support services stem

The University of Southern Maine received a $272,364 Project Grant from the Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services (CFDA 84.042) program, effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. This award supports comprehensive student support services designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for disadvantaged students, including low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities. The program delivers services aimed at increasing student retention and graduation rates, facilitating transfers from two-year to four-year institutions, and improving academic potential and financial literacy among enrolled participants.

The University of Southern Maine will operate this initiative from its Portland, Maine campus, providing direct supportive services to help disadvantaged college students successfully complete their postsecondary education programs. Services under this TRIO program typically include academic advising, tutoring, career counseling, financial literacy assistance, and other wraparound support designed to enhance student success and completion rates. As a comprehensive public higher education institution with extensive experience managing federal grants across educational support, research, and community development domains, the University of Southern Maine is well-positioned to deliver these services to its target student population over the one-year grant period.