The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Maine at Fort Kent a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. The five-year grant provides support to the university with $356,773 annually, totaling nearly $1.8 million over the life of the award.
Since 1994, the program has served approximately 165 students a year at UMFK. Through individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers students to overcome barriers to success. This comprehensive support makes it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.
“The TRIO SSS program at UMFK is so much more than academic support—it’s a personalized, student-centered program that empowers success through tutoring, resources, advocacy, and engaging experiences that help students thrive in and out of the classroom,” said UMFK Director of TRIO Student Support Services Susan Dubay.
Some of the unique services offered by the UMFK TRIO SSS program include time management and financial literacy escape rooms; “Clue into TRIO” — a life-sized Clue game centered on connection and support; a residence hall tutor; FAFSA completion seminars in collaboration with the Finance Authority of Maine, and more.
“This grant allows the University of Maine at Fort Kent to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all students—regardless of background—can thrive academically and personally,” said UMFK President Deb Hedeen. “Student Support Services provides the necessary educational tools for students to succeed and lead with confidence.”
Nationally, the SSS program has a proven track record. According to a rigorous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school, and students at four-year institutions were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to similar peers not in the program.
“TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transforms students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.
SSS is one of eight federal TRIO programs funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its inception in 1968, SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and the economy.
For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, visit the Student Success Center webpage.