Pitt-Greensburg receives first TRIO Student Support Services Grant that will provide support and opportunities for students

GREENSBURG, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is the recipient of its first-ever TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program grant, which is funded by the US Department of Education to provide higher education opportunities to students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or students with disabilities who demonstrate a need for academic support. One of eight federal TRIO programs, the Trio SSS was created in 1965 under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. 
 
Pitt-Greensburg’s newly established TRIO SSS Program provides individualized support, mentoring, tutoring, and resources to help participants navigate college life and achieve their educational goals. Each year, the Pitt-Greensburg TRIO SSS will serve up to 140 students, empowering them to persist, graduate, and pursue meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom. The total program cost is $384,350 for year one, with $272,364 (71%) financed from Federal money, and $111,986 (29%) from non-governmental sources.
 
“The TRIO grant creates opportunity,” said Robert Gregerson, PhD, president of Pitt-Greensburg. “We are proud and excited to have received this grant, because it will allow Pitt Greensburg to expand our support services and increase student success. The funds provided will enhance our ability to assist students who might struggle with academic and social adjustments to college and will enable students to gain the knowledge and skills that will propel their successful college journeys.”
 
A team of faculty and staff administers the program. Natalie Taylor, PhD, assistant professor of English, is the principal investigator (PI) of the TRIO SSS grant, and Kayla Heffernan, PhD, associate professor of Mathematics, is the TRIO SSS grant supervisor. Two new hires will fill the TRIO staff positions: Theresa Torisky as project director and Sophia Petrucci as academic coordinator. Torisky comes to Pitt-Greensburg with more than 15 years’ experience working with TRIO programs.
 
“The program will provide students with a strong, structured support system that has been absent for many,” said Jacqueline Horrall, PhD, vice president for Academic Affairs, who also served as interim TRIO SSS project director. “This support will help reduce distractions and enable students to focus more fully on their academics and on other engagements that enrich their college experience.”
 
Pitt-Greensburg has dedicated space to the program in Millstein Library that includes staff offices, a student lounge, tutoring areas, and testing spaces.
 
“Our goal was to create a centralized and welcoming environment for students,” said Horrall. She also noted that the SSS is working closely with other campus partners to ensure coordinated support of the students. These partners include Academic Affairs, faculty, the Learning Resource Center and Disability Services, Financial Aid, Admissions, Registrar’s Office, Career Services, Student Life and Success, Institutional Research, and Sponsored Programs.
 

• Academic Advising & Coaching:
  • Assistance with course selection and development of an individualized academic and career plan.
  • Regular tracking of academic progress and providing practical suggestions for completion.
• Academic Tutoring:
  • Individual tutoring with peer and/or professional tutors in challenging subjects, in collaboration with the Learning Resource Center.
• Study Skills Development & Study Halls:
  • Workshops to develop study skills and reinforce positive academic behaviors.
  • Study hall sessions with access to tutors and advisors.
• Financial Aid Workshops:
  • Coordination with the Financial Aid Office to provide workshops on financial aid, money management, credit and debt, financial planning, and student loan repayment.
  • Assistance with FAFSA completion and scholarship searches.
• Financial/Economic Literacy Education:
  • Workshops and seminars focusing on financial literacy, including management of personal finances.
• Personal Advisement:
  • Support addressing non-academic factors such as social, cultural, and psychological welfare.
  • Resources for housing, parent coaching, childcare, food insecurity, and mental health.
• Peer & Professional Mentoring:
  • Experienced undergraduate peer mentors and professional mentors from Pitt-Greensburg faculty, staff, and the community for first-year, probationary, reinstated, and transfer students.
  • First-Year Experience Programming & Cohorts:
  • Includes a four-week Summer Bridge Program for conditionally admitted students and a two-day mini-Bridge Program for regular admits.
• Graduate School Admission and Financial Aid Assistance:
  • Specialized programming about advanced degrees, graduate school applications, and financial aid for graduate education.
• Cultural and Educational Activities:
  • On and off-campus educational, social, and cultural enrichment activities, including graduation celebrations and academic awards ceremonies.
• Experiential Learning Opportunities & Career Development:
  • Encouragement to participate in research, internships, study abroad, and service learning.
  • Collaboration with Pitt-Greensburg’s Career Services for resume building, interview skills, and career exploration.
• Leadership Opportunities:
  • Promotion of leadership roles in student organizations, clubs, honor societies, and peer mentoring.
• College & Career E-Portfolios:
  • Creation and updating of a digital collection of course-related work and extracurricular activities, with reflection components to support retention and graduation.