News
New federal funding to assist underserved students
Congresswoman Nita Lowey Announces $532,338 in New Federal Funding for Local Colleges to Assist Underserved Students
Department of Education grants will help 415 Westchester Community College and Mercy College students complete their postsecondary education
WHITE PLAINS, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, announced a total of $532,338 in new U.S. Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program funding for Westchester Community College and Mercy College to assist underserved students in the successful completion of their postsecondary education.
“Higher education can chart a student on the path to economic opportunity,” said Lowey. “I’m pleased these federal investments will help hundreds of underserved students at Westchester Community College and Mercy College fulfill their academic and career goals. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working hard to protect higher education funding that makes college accessible and affordable for Lower Hudson Valley students.”
Westchester Community College (WCC) in Valhalla, NY, will receive $247,584 to implement a support services program to assist 165 first-year developmental students who are low-income, first-generation and/or disabled in completing their college programs successfully.
Services to be offered by WCC’s program will include: Individual counseling, academic advising, and coaching focused on strengthening non-cognitive skills; a series of connected activities including a Successful Start Workshop to strengthen academic behaviors and perspectives; financial aid assistance, innovative career planning assistance, and transfer assistance; tutoring; mentoring; and registration.
“Westchester Community College is delighted to be a recipient of the highly competitive TRIO Student Support Services grant,” said Westchester Community College President Dr. Belinda S. Miles. “This essential source of funding enables us to provide enhanced services to low-income, first-generation and disabled college students so they can achieve their educational goals. Students eligible to participate in this program will receive individualized counseling and coaching focused on their personal, career and academic needs to increase their retention, graduation rates and transfer to a four-year college or university.”
Mercy College, whose main campus is in Dobbs Ferry, NY, will receive $284,754 to support 250 underserved students through a student support services program aimed at increasing the rates of retention, good academic standing, and graduation of eligible students. According to Mercy, two-thirds of the participants will be low-income and first-generation college students or individuals with disabilities; and one-third will be low-income, first-generation or individuals with disabilities. Not less than one-third of individuals with disabilities will be low-income. All students in the program will have academic need.
“These federal dollars will help Mercy College students who need a little extra personalized support to get to graduation day,” said Mercy College President Tim Hall. “The grant funds the TRIO Student Support Services program at Mercy, which serves 250 undergraduates who are low-income and first generation college students, and also those with disabilities. The grant allows us to provide support services such as specialized freshman orientation, financial literacy, tutoring, mentoring and cultural activities. This is a proven program that assists with retention, student academic success and graduation. Thank you to Congresswoman Nita Lowey for helping Mercy College students succeed.”
Higher education is critical for students to meet the needs of the global and competitive workforce they will enter. That is why Congresswoman Lowey has been working to increase college access and affordability for hardworking students. She has:
- Voted for the largest investment in college financial aid since the passage of the GI bills;
- Supported cutting the interest rate on student loans in half over five years, saving borrowers thousands of dollars;
- Supported allowing students with old loans to refinance to the lower rates that new borrowers enjoy;
- Authored the DIPLOMA Act to make college tuition, fees, room and board, and books fully tax-deductible; and
- Supports increases in the maximum Pell Grant award to help financial aid keep up with rising cost of college.