The United States Department of Education has renewed State Fair Community College’s TRiO Student Support Services program grant for the upcoming year beginning September 1.
A news release says this is SFCC’s fifth TRiO grant award; the first of which it received in 2001.
The college will receive $293,861 for the first budget period from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021. It is anticipated the grant will be renewed for a total of five years to fund the federal program that helps low-income, first-generation or disabled college students succeed at SFCC and then transfer to complete four-year degrees.
Sonya Bowman is the program director at SFCC’s Student Support Services. Bowman and her staff of four work to provide academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, increase graduation rates, facilitate transfer to four-year colleges, and foster an institutional climate of support.
“We serve 160 eligible students per year,” Bowman said. “Many students depend on this program to help them adjust to college and to support them on their educational journey. When they fill out evaluations at the end of the year, many say they would never have finished their degrees without the support they received.”
Services include instruction in study skills; tutoring; academic, financial and personal counseling; assistance in securing admission and financial aid for enrollment in four-year institutions; guidance on career options; mentoring; and grant aid.
One SFCC student described her experience with TRiO SSS.
“I really enjoyed the support from the academic advising team, and I went to the TRiO tutors several times a week. The staff are amazing and so helpful at breaking the lessons down. I would not have all ‘As’ if it weren’t for them. The service provided is not like other classroom experience; the one-on-one attention is beneficial to students.”
PICTURE: State Fair Community College’s TRiO Student Support Services grant has been renewed by the U.S. Department of Education. In February 2020, Sedalia Mayor John Kehde signed a proclamation that recognized SFCC’s Student Support Services (SSS) and Upward Bound (UB) programs. From left, SFCC President Dr. Joanna Anderson, UB Advisor Osiris Ochoa, UB Academic Advisor Brandon Hammond, UB student Stephanie Estrada, SFCC Human Resources Executive Director Rachel Dawson, UB student Sarah Hinkson, SSS Receptionist Michael Mugler, Mayor John Kehde, SSS Academic Advisor Dana Goosen, UB student Mano Deignan, SSS Director Sonya Bowman, UB Coordinator Linda Creach, SFCC Dean of Student and Academic Support Services Dr. Autumn Porter, SSS Student Success Coach Crissina Kemp, and SSS Administrative Assistant Wanda Trauschke. (Photo courtesy of State Fair Community College)