TRIO Works: The Impact of TRIO SSS Participation on GPA and Academic Standin

• In Event: Supporting Students Across Campus

Abstract

Federal TRIO grants enable educational institutions to provide targeted resources and support to improve the postsecondary outcomes of students from historically marginalized backgrounds; Student Support Services (SSS) grants are awarded to two- and four-year colleges to support students in year-to year persistence, good academic standing, graduation, and four-year transfer. While grantees are required to submit annual performance reporting data to the Department of Education to demonstrate adequate progress in meeting grant objectives, these data may be underutilized in demonstrating the effectiveness of individual TRIO SSS grant projects. This paper uses statistical analysis to examine the difference in outcomes (GPA and academic standing) for two populations of students at a mid-size, Midwestern community college: those who actively receive TRIO SSS services, and former participants no longer receiving interventions.

Author

• Julia Hawthorne, Parkland College