Utah tech university's trio student support services (SSS) program: transitioning from two-year (associates degree) to predominately four-year (bachelor's degree) assistance

Utah TECH University received a $382,911 Project Grant from the 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 program delivers comprehensive supportive services designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for disadvantaged college students, with a specific focus on facilitating the transition from two-year associate degree programs to four-year bachelor's degree programs. Key services include academic advising, financial literacy instruction, and student retention initiatives aimed at increasing completion rates and transfer success among low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities.

The SSS Program at Utah TECH University addresses a critical gap in educational access by providing targeted support that strengthens student academic potential and institutional transfer pathways. As a one-year project award within a broader five-year grant framework subject to annual continuation, this funding enables the institution to expand its capacity to serve disadvantaged student populations in southern Utah, contributing to the federal objective of increasing postsecondary education access, affordability, and completion rates across the higher education sector.