UNT's TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program, serving first-generation, low-income and students with disabilities with the goal of increasing retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students, was recently funded $2 million for the 2020-25 grant cycle to serve 258 participants.

With the grant, TRIO SSS will provide academic tutoring, guidance in completion of financial aid applications, course registration assistance, financial literacy education and counseling, and assistance in enrollment to graduate and professional school.

"Joining TRIO SSS has really helped me prepare mentally, as well as academically, to be strong and to stay positive with all my goals and to stay on track," says Addis Gonte, a senior in UNT's Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences program.

TRIO SSS will have to meet grant objectives including 90% of all enrolled participants meeting the performance level required to stay in good academic standing at UNT, and 57% of the new participants served each year graduating within six years.