Provide holistic academic support for low income and first generation college students to persist, graduate and transfer to a 4-year college or university

South Seattle Community College received a $365,688 project grant award dated September 1, 2025, from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program (CFDA 84.042). The grant supports a comprehensive academic support initiative designed to enhance postsecondary outcomes for low-income and first-generation college students. Through this one-year award (concluding August 31, 2026), the institution will deliver holistic support services that increase student retention, facilitate degree completion, and promote successful transfers to four-year colleges and universities. The program addresses key barriers to academic success through targeted interventions that improve student persistence and educational attainment among disadvantaged populations.

The TRIO Student Support Services Program, from which this award derives, is a federally funded initiative that provides supportive services to enhance the academic potential of disadvantaged college students. The College's project aligns with the program's core objectives of increasing postsecondary education access, affordability, and completion. As an accredited community college serving diverse student populations in Seattle, Washington, South Seattle College leverages this federal investment to strengthen educational pathways for underrepresented student groups and expand opportunities for successful degree completion and transfer.