GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds will continue to have access to a vital program that helps them succeed in the classroom and envision a life beyond their expectations.
Rachael Barnett, director of Student Support Services, speaks at one of the program’s events.
The federal government has awarded Tusculum a TRIO Student Support Services grant for the next five years. The grant is for $348,515 each year to cover a wide array of services and activities for traditional and online students. Tusculum has had an SSS program, which serves undergraduate students, since 1998. The program is funded to serve 200 students.
“This is thrilling news for our students,” said Rachael Barnett, SSS’ director. “Our program changes the trajectory of their lives and inspires them to elevate their aspirations and pursue their dreams. It is rewarding to watch our students embrace their opportunities and land in fulfilling careers that make a difference in their communities.”
SSS serves students whose parents or guardians do not have a bachelor’s degree and who come from lower-income households. Students with disabilities can also qualify for SSS.
The program provides academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and scholarship support, financial literacy guidance, cultural and social activities and visits to graduate schools. All of these services are available for free to students who apply for the program and are accepted.
Students who participate in the program are eligible to receive a scholarship, and the SSS program staff works closely with Tusculum’s Office of Financial Aid to offer financial aid support and literacy.
Meagan Stark, associate director of SSS, counsels members Jahzara Hart, middle, and Jerry Ricker.
Stephen Brewer, then a student and now a Tusculum alumnus, gives remarks at First-Generation College Celebration Day. He was an SSS member.
One of the biggest advantages of SSS is the personal one-on-one attention they receive from the program’s staff. First-generation college students who are eager to pursue a bachelor’s degree still might not be aware of the rigor of higher education curriculum, the complexities of college life or the idea of living away from home. SSS staff help them navigate the academic and personal challenges with the ultimate goal of seeking them walk across the stage and receive a diploma.
Students who participate in SSS at Tusculum are twice as likely to graduate as those who are in the same personal circumstances but are not members of the program. About 56% of Tusculum’s students are first-generation. Tusculum’s SSS program has an average six-year graduation rates over the last seven years that is more than twice the national average for first-generation students.
But achievement does not stop there. Through graduate school visits, students in SSS are exposed to the concept of pursuing a master’s degree or advancing to a profession program, such as medical school or law school.
Rachael Barnett, right, speaks with SSS member Haylee Miller at an SSS event.
“Funding SSS is a wise investment by the federal government,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “The return on the investment is palpable as graduates proceed to good-paying jobs that enable them to lead high-quality lives and support the local and national economy. We are excited and grateful to the federal government for recognizing the value of SSS.”
In particular, Dr. Hummel and Barnett thanked and commended Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, a Republican whose district includes Tusculum. She wrote a letter to colleagues in the House of Representatives urging them to robustly fund federal TRIO programs, which include SSS. Harshbarger was a first-generation college student.
“Knowing we have Congresswoman Harshbarger’s backing for SSS and other TRIO programs means a great deal to us,” Dr. Hummel said. “We appreciate the Department of Education as well for providing us with this notice now so our SSS staff can proceed with planning activities and programming and new and returning students who are part of the program will know they will continue to have this outstanding resource available.”
Additional information about SSS is available at https://site.tusculum.edu/student-success/academic-affairs/first-gen/sss/. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.