The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Georgian Court more than $1.7 million over the next five years through the TRIO–Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) program. The funding will help first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities succeed in college and reach graduation.
Georgian Court has proudly served as a TRIO–SSS institution for 45 years, receiving continuous funding for the past decade.
“TRIO–SSS is a vital program that delivers academic and financial support and life skills training for eligible students pursuing higher education,” said Interim President Eugune J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. “It helps undergraduate students thrive at Georgian Court and after graduation, while aligning with our Mercy core values and mission of guiding students to find their calling and follow their passion.”
The results speak for themselves. In 2023-2024, 94% of the 161 students served—roughly 10% of the university’s undergraduate population—maintained good academic standing, and 92% either graduated or persisted to the next academic year.
Services include academic coaching and support, advocacy, tutoring, mentoring, supplemental and basic skills instruction, financial literacy training, educational enrichment opportunities, use of a computer lab, and graduate school counseling. Limited financial assistance is also available for students with demonstrated need.
“We’re pleased to have been awarded funding to continue our goal of helping students achieve their bachelor’s degree,” said Danielle Staten Lamb, Ed.D., director of Georgian Court’s TRIO–SSS program. “TRIO–SSS is vital because we provide holistic support. It’s about meeting students where they are and providing the services necessary to ensure they are successful and progress in their academic programs.”
The program’s impact is particularly significant at Georgian Court, where many students come from first-generation and low-income backgrounds. In 2023, 33% of first-year students were first-generation, and in 2024, 30%. Nearly half of first-year students in both years—46%—received Pell Grants.
The federal TRIO–SSS program began in 1968 as one of the eight “TRIO” programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 to help college students succeed in higher education. It acknowledges that students without a family history of college, those from low-income households, and students with disabilities often face unique challenges that can stand in the way of success. TRIO–SSS works to remove those barriers. For more information and to apply to GCU’s TRIO–SSS program, visit GCU TRIO–SSS or e-mail sss@georgian.edu.
