U.S. Department of Education awards FIU $1.3 million TRIO Student Support Services grant

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Florida International University a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling $ 1.3 million to improve college retention and graduation rates among students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation students and students with disabilities. 

This award marks the continuation of 28 years of SSS at FIU. Since 1997, the program has served over 2,000 students, helping them stay on track to earn their degrees and build meaningful careers. 

SSS helps students overcome barriers to success through personalized services such as academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring. This comprehensive, wraparound support model greatly enhances the likelihood that students will complete their degrees while simultaneously minimizing debt. 

“This award underscores FIU's deepening commitment to student success, with a particular focus on first-generation and low-income students. These groups often encounter distinct challenges that can affect their academic progress and long-term contributions to the community. The funding will help maintain support systems that empower these students to thrive both in the classroom and beyond,” said Phillip Lloyd Hamilton, Assistant Vice President for Student Belonging and Support at FIU. 

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 and first-generation students graduate from college and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the economy. 

On a national scale, SSS has a proven track record. According to a rigorous evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education in 2019, students who participated 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 who were not in the program.  

“TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, DC. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.” 

At FIU, 92% of first-time-in-college freshmen participating in SSS graduated within the six-year time frame, in comparison with 78% of peers who were not in the program. SSS students were also more likely to remain at FIU through their second year, with 100% of SSS students being retained in comparison with 89% of their similar peers.  

Mesline Eugene, a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice through the FIU Honors College in 2015 and is now a criminal defense attorney, is one of the university’s many SSS success stories. Eugene was introduced to FIU in high school as a participant in the TRIO Upward Bound bridge program and went on to join SSS during her undergraduate studies. She credits the mentorship and guidance provided by Upward Bound and SSS for equipping her with the tools and confidence needed to succeed in higher education and stay motivated to achieve her goals. 

“Today, I not only advocate zealously for my clients, but I also work tirelessly to protect their constitutional rights both inside and outside the courtroom. I will always remain grateful to TRIO for shaping my journey, empowering my success, and helping me become the attorney I am today,” Eugene said. 

For more information about TRIO Student Support Services, visit the Office of Student Access and Success or contact Moira Lertora at mlertora@fiu.edu.