University of Dubuque Awarded $1.32 Million Grant for TRIO Student Support Services

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Dubuque a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling $1,322,140 over the next five years to help improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities.

The award marks the continuation of 15 years of UD providing this program on campus to help students stay in school, earn degrees, and build meaningful careers. Since 2010, TRIO SSS has served nearly 900 Spartans - 140 of those students benefitted during the 2024-2025 academic year alone.

"Continuation of this grant affirms the importance of ensuring that the University of Dubuque is a campus ready to welcome and challenge students of all different backgrounds," said Katie Bailey, MEd, director of TRIO SSS at UD. "In alignment with the mission, our staff excel at building relationships and connections with each of our advisees and within and across our TRIO community. As the university expands pathways for transfers and with additional pre-medical programs, our program will be here to ensure that students from first-generation, low-income, and disability backgrounds have the support, structure, and care to thrive."

Through four categories of individualized services - academic support, career preparation, financial literacy, and personal growth and leadership development - as well as community building workshops and events, TRIO SSS empowers UD students to overcome barriers to success. These comprehensive supports make it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree with the lowest possible debt.

"TRIO has been a cornerstone of my college journey, providing consistent academic, financial, and personal support that has helped me grow as both a student and an aspiring physician assistant," said Akim Baba Traore, a senior biology major from East Moline, Illinois. "From notetaking and study workshops that transformed how I learn, to financial literacy sessions that taught me how to manage my budget and credit, to graduate program educational sessions and visits to prepare me for life beyond UD, TRIO has truly empowered me to succeed in every aspect of my college life."

Nationally, the TRIO SSS program has a proven track record. According to a rigorous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students at four-year institutions were 18 percent more likely to earn a bachelor's degree compared to similar peers not in the program.

"TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transforms students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates," said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. "This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country."

TRIO SSS supports students in pursuit of their success by getting to know them on a personal level and advising them throughout their university life. Participants in UD's TRIO SSS have persisted at a rate of 97 percent, earned a good academic standing at a rate of 96 percent, and graduated at a rate of 62 percent in the 2023-2024 academic year.

The program also offers opportunities for students to enrich their college experience with a variety of events on and off campus facilitated by Bailey as well as TRIO SSS advisors AJ Ligeralde and Tika Sykes (C'24, MBA'25), MBA. During the 2024-2025 academic year, TRIO students had the opportunity to attend 28 events including graduate school visits, cultural enrichment activities, the annual Game of Life financial simulation, leadership retreats, alumni panels, and other skill-building workshops.

"TRIO has given me somewhere to turn when I have questions or concerns that aren't usually answered by a professor or other support staff such as where to go to graduate school, the best degrees to get for the field I'm going into, or even simpler things like what to do about day-to-day situations," said Monica Nickels, a senior human health science major from Freeport, Illinois. "Being a first-generation student, TRIO has really helped filling a parent-like role while I'm at school experiencing new things. They have been an outlet and a resource at the same time, always offering an ear to listen whenever I need it while still giving me space to grow on my own. TRIO has made my college experience as enjoyable as possible while preparing me with skills for beyond college."

SSS is one of eight federal TRIO programs funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its inception in 1968, SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and economy.

"The TRIO program serves as a beacon of support and opportunity on campus, led by a dedicated staff who foster meaningful connections with students and provide guidance through academic and personal challenges. Their work not only supports UD's first-generation students but also generates a ripple effect of encouragement and achievement that enhances the entire campus community," said Adam Hoffman, PhD, vice president for academic affairs at UD. "We are fortunate to have such a transformative and essential resource at the University of Dubuque."

For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Dubuque, please visit https://www.dbq.edu/Academics/SpecialLearningOpportunities/TRIOStudentSupportServices/ or email TRIOSSS@dbq.edu.