Dutchess community college regular student support services program for 140 students

Dutchess Community College received a $272,364 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 supports comprehensive student support services for 140 disadvantaged students at the college's Poughkeepsie, New York campus. The program delivers critical services designed to enhance postsecondary educational outcomes for low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities through academic advising, financial literacy education, and retention support services.

The TRIO SSS Program operates as a five-year grant with annual continuation awards subject to performance and fund availability. The primary objectives are to increase student retention and graduation rates while facilitating successful transfers from the two-year institution to four-year postsecondary programs. Through this award, Dutchess Community College implements targeted interventions to improve academic potential and overall student success, contributing to the Department of Education's broader mission of enhancing postsecondary access, affordability, and completion for disadvantaged student populations.