Moraine Park Technical College has been awarded a five-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services (SSS) program, which provides assistance for students who are low-income, first in their family to attend college or have a learning disability. Moraine Park’s SSS program, referred to as its EDGE program, is in place to help students meet their goals and graduate from college. Each year, 140 students are enrolled in the program, and their progress is closely monitored. The EDGE program offers many services to help students stay on track, including academic advising, financial aid and scholarship resources, cultural events, skills development and tutoring. “The EDGE team provides the tools and confidence our students need to overcome challenges and earn their degrees,” said Michael Smith, Moraine Park’s TRIO grant manager. “During the 2013-14 school year, 94 percent of EDGE students were in good academic standing, which is an exceptional accomplishment for the students and the program.” This grant is the second for Moraine Park’s EDGE program. The first was awarded in 2010 and was a similar five-year grant from the Department of Education. The goal of the SSS grant is to increase college retention and graduation rates by providing motivation for students, opportunities for academic development and assistance with basic college requirements. The new grant will take effect on September 1, 2015, and the college will receive $220,000 every year, totaling $1.1 million over the next five years. Moraine Park’s SSS program falls under the umbrella of Federal TRIO programs, which are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. TRIO programs are administered by the Student Service area of the Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education.
