(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – A recent federal grant will help sustain a program designed for disadvantaged students at the University of Central Missouri.

The university will receive $1.5 million over the next five years for the TRIO-Student Support Services program, offered through the Department of Academic Enrichment, according to a news release.

“This federal grant award allows the university to continue honoring its commitment to help students graduate,” said Chris Beggs, director of TRIO/Student Support Services. “We know that TRIO works at UCM. Our students have demonstrated success for over 37 years and this latest grant award lets us continue that tradition while also providing the opportunity to innovate for new generations of students.”

Student Support Services is one of two federal TRIO programs that receive funding through competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education. Unless there are legislative changes that affect funding, the university expects to receive approximately $340,000 a year to support direct services related to SSS. This includes tutoring, courses, advising, financial literacy assistance, and grant aid to qualified students, Beggs said.

Federal support for SSS programs will benefit 210 disadvantaged students at UCM. To be eligible, students must be first-generation with neither parent earning a bachelor’s degree, have financial need, or be challenged by a disability.

“Involvement in TRIO is proven to increase likelihood of degree completion,” Beggs said. “Many of our students are the first in their families to attend, let alone graduate, college.”

Notification of the successful grant application comes months after the nation celebrated 50 years of TRIO in

2014. TRIO-SSS is poised to enter its 38th year of support for student success at UCM. The other TRIO program at UCM is McNair Scholars, which prepares underrepresented students for graduate study. It receives funding from a different grant.