TRIO SSS at Red Rocks will target students demonstrating academic needs. The focus will be on students who are low-income as well as first-generation students and students with disabilities.
College students who are first-generation or low-income as well as students with disabilities will soon be seeing a lot more support at Red Rocks Community College. It is all thanks to a US Department of Education grant totaling $1,099,645 over a five year period. The grant will fund a brand new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Red Rocks’ Lakewood Campus.
“There is nothing more exciting than seeing additional support for our students,” said Dr. Michele Haney, President of Red Rocks Community College. “The grant will help us serve students who are first generation college attendees, students who are low-income and students who have disabilities.”
“The goal of the TRIO SSS program is to motivate students to pursue and complete their college education through self-empowerment.” According to Dr. Lisa Fowler, Vice President for Student Success, “the RRCC TRIO SSS Program activities and services are designed to increase academic performance and promote responsibility, integrity, and personal growth.” Participants will receive individualized services designed to help students stay in school and graduate, such as tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, and financial guidance.
The TRIO SSS program enhances a long history of student success initiatives at Red Rocks. Initiatives include first year experience classes and mentoring, collaboration spaces like the IDEA Lab and the student projects center, as well as service centers for student veterans and students with disabilities. Red Rocks Community College has been recognized twice for retention and completion efforts by the Colorado Community College System.
The new program will begin recruiting current students this fall and will start in the spring 2016 semester. The TRIO SSS program at Red Rocks Community College will serve 140 students each program year. Red Rocks Community College is among 10 Colorado Community College System schools receiving similar grants that will fund TRIO Student Support Services programs this year.
TRIO SSS at Red Rocks receives annual funding totaling $302,083. Seventy-three percent of project funds come from the US department of Education at $219,929 annually. Twenty-seven percent of project funds are matched by RRCC totaling $82,154 annually.
About Red Rocks Community College: Established in 1969, Red Rocks Community College delivers high-quality, affordable education programs leading to two-year degrees or professional certificates. The college serves over 14,000 students per year online and at two campus locations in Lakewood and Arvada. www.rrcc.edu.