FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Helene T. Carter, Exec. Asst. to the President
Paine College
Email: hcarter@paine.edu | Phone: 803.664.0080

Paine College's TRIO Student Support Services Program Awarded $1.1 Million in Continued Federal Funding

AUGUSTA, GA — Paine College has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program for the next five years.

"We are deeply honored to receive continued federal funding for the TRIO Student Support Services Program," said Dr. Lester A. McCorn, President of Paine College. "This $1.1 million award from the U.S. Department of Education represents more than an investment in Paine College — it is an investment in the lives and futures of the students we serve."

The renewed funding reaffirms Paine College's long-standing commitment to academic access, equity, and student success. Through the TRIO SSS Program, the College supports first-generation, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities by providing resources that help them persist, excel, and graduate with confidence.

Since its establishment on the Paine College campus in 1973, the TRIO SSS Program has empowered thousands of students to achieve academic success through individualized services designed to strengthen performance, promote retention, and increase degree completion rates. The program is one of the College's most enduring and impactful student success initiatives, sustained through a highly competitive national grant process conducted every five years.

Participants in the SSS Program benefit from a comprehensive suite of services including academic advising, tutoring, FAFSA assistance, financial literacy workshops, and graduate school preparation. Students also receive career readiness coaching, mentoring, non-clinical counseling, and exposure to cultural enrichment activities that broaden their academic and social horizons.

"As a TRIO alum who benefited from these services while pursuing higher education, I understand firsthand the transformative impact of the Student Support Services Program," said Brittany N. Dixon, Director of TRIO SSS at Paine College. "The care and dedication of our staff light the path for students to graduate as competent and contributing citizens within their communities and our nation."

The SSS Program is one of eight federally funded TRIO initiatives established under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. A 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education found that students participating in SSS are significantly more likely to earn a degree — 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer from a two-year institution and 18% more likely to complete a bachelor's degree from a four-year college — compared to their peers. Moreover, the study shows a remarkable return on investment of $13 for every $1 spent by the federal government, underscoring the long-term value of the program.

"TRIO Student Support Services at Paine College has helped me in so many ways," said Shavon Malcolm, a junior Sociology major. "They've kept me on track academically and motivated me to stay focused. More than just academic support, TRIO has given me a sense of belonging and family. Being part of this program has strengthened my college experience both personally and academically, and I'm grateful it will continue."

Dr. McCorn added, "For over five decades, TRIO has been a vital part of our commitment to academic excellence, access, and equity. Through this program, we are able to provide life-changing support to first-generation, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities — helping them not only to stay in college but to thrive and graduate with confidence and purpose. This renewal affirms the outstanding work of our dedicated TRIO staff, faculty, and administrators who continue to create pathways to success for our students. It also underscores the enduring value of Paine College as a beacon of opportunity and transformation in higher education.

Paine College's TRIO Department is among the longest-standing TRIO programs in the nation, encompassing both Student Support Services and Upward Bound, which began in 1967. Together, these initiatives embody the College's historic mission to educate the whole student — intellectually, socially, and spiritually — while fostering opportunity and transformation through access to higher education.
 

 

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About Paine College
Founded in 1882, Paine College is a private, historically Black liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Located in Augusta, Georgia, Paine College is committed to academic excellence, ethical leadership, and service. The College prepares students for purposeful careers and meaningful lives through a transformative education grounded in faith, knowledge, and service. Paine College equips students for purposeful careers and meaningful lives through a transformative education rooted in faith, knowledge, and service. Within a nurturing environment, students are guided to become critical thinkers, compassionate leaders, and engaged global citizens.

Learn more at www.paine.edu