Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has been awarded a $1,923,005 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund its TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. This multi-year award will enhance ECSU's efforts to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. 
 
The TRIO SSS program provides a comprehensive network of individualized support services, including academic tutoring, financial aid and scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring. These resources are designed to help students navigate barriers to success, stay on track academically, and graduate with minimal debt. 
 
"This grant allows Elizabeth City State University to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all students—regardless of their background—can thrive both academically and personally," said Dr. Kimberly Stanley, Program Director for TRIO Student Support Services at ECSU. "SSS levels the playing field and empowers our students with the tools, support, and confidence they need to succeed and lead." 
 
National data backs the impact of the SSS program. A 2019 U.S. Department of Education evaluation found that students participating in SSS were 48% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution (at two-year schools), and 18% more likely to earn a bachelor's degree (at four-year institutions), compared to peers not enrolled in the program. 
 
Student Support Services is one of eight federal TRIO programs established under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Since its launch in 1968, SSS has helped millions of students access, persist, and succeed in postsecondary education, ultimately enriching their communities and contributing to the national economy. Notable SSS alumni include Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, NY; former NASA astronaut José Hernández; and Cheryl Johnson, 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. 
 
For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Elizabeth City State University, visit https://ecsu.edu or contact Dr. Kimberly Stanley at kdstanley@ecsu.edu. 
 
About Elizabeth City State University 
Elizabeth City State University provides students with a high-quality, affordable education. A constituent member of the University of North Carolina System, ECSU develops courageous, resilient, and empowered leaders through excellent student-centered, experiential learning. ECSU offers baccalaureate, professional, and master's degrees across various disciplines. Come to Discover. Leave to Conquer. Visit www.ecsu.edu 
 
About the Federal TRIO Programs 
TRIO programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program) help students overcome academic, economic, and social barriers to higher education. TRIO services include assistance in choosing a college and tutoring; personal, financial, and career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic assistance in high school or assistance to reenter high school or college.