Student Support Services programs receive more than $2.5 million in grant funding

Tusculum College was recently notified by the United States Department of Education that its two Student Support Services programs earned renewed grant funding for five years. These two federal TRIO Programs will receive $2.5 million dollars over five years to provide first-generation college students with academic support to promote retention and graduation.

Dr. David Smith, director of Student Support Services, said the funds will be used for continuation of the Student Support Services programming at Tusculum College.

“Student Support Services provides foundational academic programming designed to enrich students’ experiences at all Tusculum College sites,” said Dr. Smith. “These programs are critical to promoting retention and graduation of the institution’s sizable first-generation student population. Gaining continued funding enables our staff to maintain services vital to student success, so we are pleased to be among the Student Support Services grant competition awardees.”

Student Support Services serves first-generation college students and/or low-income or disabled students who exhibit some type of academic need. These needs vary from academic assistance such as tutoring to promotion of enrollment in graduate school programs.

The college hosts two Student Support Services programs—one serves traditional students attending the main residential college in Greeneville, and the other serves adult students in the Graduate and Professional Studies program who attend classes at sites in Knoxville, Greeneville, Morristown and Kingsport. In addition to providing academic support programming, Student Support Services promotes student engagement through workshops designed to prepare and educate students regarding a variety of educational and career topics.

For those interested in enrolling in a graduate school program, Student Support Services provides exposure to and assistance in applying to graduate school as well as referral for priority consideration for enrollment in East Tennessee State University’s Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Summer Internship.

Other components of the Student Support Services programs include exclusive “Lunch & Learn” seminars, local educational field trips to promote career awareness and a spring break graduate school excursion.