(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) announced today that Fulton-Montgomery Community College (FMCC), Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) and the University at Albany will each receive over $200,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program.

McNulty said, “The TRIO Student Support Services Program provides grants to institutions of higher education for projects to increase the retention and graduation rates of low-income and first generation college students, including those with disabilities, create an institutional climate supportive of their success, and help them transfer from two-year to four-year institutions of higher learning.”

The congressman detailed that FMCC will receive $220,000 in TRIO funds, SCCC will get $267,986, and the University at Albany will receive $235,689. McNulty also noted that the grantee schools are permitted to use up to 20 percent of the total grant funds for direct grant-aid to eligible students.

At the undergraduate level, projects under the program may provide such services as:

• Instruction in reading, writing, study skills & mathematics;
• Personal counseling;
• Academic advising and assistance in course selection;
• Exposure to cultural events and academic programs;
• Activities to acquaint students with a range of available career options;
• Activities to assist participants in transferring to four-year institutions;
• Mentoring programs; and,
• Assistance in securing admission and financial aid for enrollment in graduate and professional programs.

"For the past seven years, this program has enhanced our ability to provide services that help to retain students who are at-risk, disabled and/or disadvantaged. With this announcement, we will be able to further our retention efforts even more over the next five years of this new grant period," said Schenectady County Community College President Gabe Basil.

"FMCC is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive teaching and learning environment that provides our disadvantaged students with the specific support services and customized resources they need to successfully pursue long-term collegiate goals. This TRIO grant will allow the college to expand its assistance to at-risk students. We are pleased that Congressman McNulty was able to advocate and support this important initiative," said FMCC President, Dr. Barry M. Weinberg.

Weinberg added that less than ten percent of the awardees nationally in this year's competition are first time recipients. FMCC’s $220,000 award is the maximum allocation a new grantee can receive.

"I can think of no other national program that has had a greater and better impact on bringing historically underrepresented students into the mainstream of higher education than the Trio Program. It is designed to reach out to and retain those students who otherwise might have missed academic success in higher education, which is key to greater successes in life, both professionally and personally," said UAlbany President Kermit Hall. "When they succeed, UAlbany succeeds, and we are most grateful to Congressman McNulty for his work in securing this funding."

"As a State University, we strive to provide a variety of opportunities for all of our citizens," said Carson Carr, associate vice president for Academic Affairs and director of the Educational Opportunity Program at UAlbany. "This Student Support Services grant will allow us additional academic support programming to help 160 economically disadvantaged students and first generation college students satisfy their goals of a college education. This university has a long and distinguished history in supporting low-income students and this grant will enhance our legacy. We are honored to receive this renewal grant."

# # #