Money will help fund Paine's Student Support Services Program

Washington, DC - 12^th District Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) today announced that Paine College will receive a $228,435 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the college's Student Support Services (SSS) Program.  SSS programs provide tutoring and counseling services to low-income and disadvantaged students working to earn their college and university degrees. 

"I'm pleased to announce that Paine College has been selected to receive this grant," Rep. Barrow said.  "Year after year, Paine's SSS program has provided a countless number of students with the support and counseling they needed to get ahead.  This grant will help make sure that support stays in place at Paine." 

SSS is one of the nation's seven TRIO programs - performance-based education initiatives that work to ensure equal education opportunities for all Americans.  Currently, there are SSS programs at over 938 colleges and universities nationwide.  The goal of these programs is to increase the college retention and graduation rates for low-income and disadvantaged students. 

Offering opportunities to help improve academic development, SSS programs help students fulfill their basic college requirements by providing tutoring services, career counseling, mentoring, personal and financial counseling, academic advisement, and financial aid assistance.  In addition to providing support services, grantees may use up to 20 percent of the total federal grant funds for direct financial assistance to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants.      

"For over 33 years, Paine's SSS program has provided the support many of our students have needed to help stay in college and earn their degrees," Earnestine Bell, Director of Paine's Student Support Services Program said.  "It's good to know that Congressman Barrow understands the importance of this program and is committed to helping strengthen it."

For more information on the Student Support Services Program, or other federal TRIO education initiatives, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html.

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Contact: Harper Lawson, (202) 225-2823

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