Shawnee community college student support services program

Shawnee Community College received a $352,531 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program (CFDA 84.042), effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. The award funds comprehensive academic support services designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities enrolled at the institution. The SSS program provides targeted interventions to increase student retention and graduation rates, improve financial literacy, and facilitate successful completion of degree programs.

Under this award, Shawnee Community College will deliver integrated student support services including academic advising, tutoring, career guidance, and personal counseling to eligible disadvantaged students. The program is designed to strengthen academic potential and overall student success in higher education, with particular focus on supporting the college's diverse student population in the southernmost region of Illinois. The one-year project period allows the institution to sustain and expand existing student support infrastructure while meeting the program's core objectives of improving postsecondary completion and facilitating student transfer pathways to four-year institutions.