A Metropolitan Community College program helping first-generation college students has received a $1.7 million grant.
The program is called TRiO. It provides academic support for low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. 400 students are in the TRiO program each year. TRiO director Mark Patten says the program will continue through 2020.
"Our students are involved in a lot of different programs, whether it may be tutoring, we provide academic support, we do financial literacy, career counseling, a variety of different programs and services we provide to our students."
Patten says TRiO has four goals. One is retention. Another is to keep students in good academic standing. TRiO also wants those students to graduate, and transfer to four-year schools.