Florida Gulf Coast University has been awarded two federal grants totaling $2.3 million to help ensure academic success for students who are the first in their families to attend college, who come from low-income households or who have a disability.
The awards were part of more than $270 million the U.S. Education Department distributed to 968 higher-education institutions to provide thousands of students with academic and other support services they need to have an equal opportunity to earn a college degree.
Student Support Services (SSS) will receive $247,584 a year for the next five years, which will enable the office to help about 160 disadvantaged FGCU students. The other grant provides $213,180 a year over five years and will assist 120 disadvantaged students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). FGCU was one of only 33 SSS programs in the United States to be awarded both grants.
“We are extremely grateful to be receiving these two grants so we can continue the excellent SSS and STEM programs that we have,” said Dr. Dolores Kiesler, director for the Office of Student Support Services and Outreach Programs at FGCU.
The university was lauded for having ambitious and attainable goals for retention, good academic standing and graduation, and for having “a good grasp on multiple ways to support students” through these two grant proposals.
“We are honored that FGCU is one of only 38 colleges and universities in the United States to receive the SSS STEM grant and one of only three awarded in Florida,” said Dr. Michele Yovanovich, Dean of Students. “This is in part due to the success of our graduation and retention rates.”
FGCU helps all students succeed by providing academic tutoring, course selection guidance, financial aid information and other support services. The federal grants enable the university to offer additional individualized counseling, career guidance and mentoring to disadvantaged students as well as to provide housing assistance during school breaks for students who are homeless or in foster care.
SSS is one of seven Federal TRIO Programs that provide outreach to help students progress through the academic system from middle school to post baccalaureate programs.
“Every student has the right to an equal opportunity to learn and succeed in college,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “These grants provide critical support to students who can benefit from extra help and encouragement along their college journey, enabling them to reach their personal goals and contribute to the economic vitality of our nation.”
- Learm more about Student Support Services at FGCU, or call Dolores Kiesler or Michele Yovanovich at (239) 590-7900.