Spartanburg Community College Receives TRIO Student Support Services Grant
August 23, 2010
SPARTANBURG, SC – August 23, 2010 – Spartanburg Community College (SCC), has been awarded a TRIO Student Support Services grant in the amount of $285,418 per year from the U.S. Department of Education to continue the Success Network program for an anticipated five years. The grant totals approximately $1.4 million over the five-year period.
“Receiving a new TRIO grant for the next five years is vital to Success Network since this grant is our sole source of funding,” said Erin Watkins, director of the Success Network at SCC. “With our renewed funding, we will continue our operations at the College and assist SCC students achieve their academic and career goals.”
The Success Network is an academic support program that focuses on students’ individual learning needs. The program offers a variety of services and activities to assist eligible SCC students in reaching their academic and career goals through tutoring, study-skills development, peer mentoring, career-oriented services and transfer-related services that encourage students to further their education.
Kent Nash, a business student at SCC, is just one of many students who has benefited from the Success Network. Beginning college 20 years after attending high school, Nash needed assistance with his classes. “My instructor referred me to the Success Network and it has helped me in so many ways,” said Nash. “The tutors are outstanding. They make you feel comfortable and give you one-on-one attention. They help you where you are in life. Since starting the Success Network, I’ve been making all A’s and B’s, and I couldn’t have done that without this type of support.” Nash plans to graduate with an Associate Degree in Management and a certificate in Small Business Management in December, and then continue his education in sports management at a four-year college.
To be eligible for the Success Network, students must meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a first generation college student (neither parent has a four-year college degree or the custodial parent in a single-parent family does not have a four-year college degree) or
- Currently reside in an economically disadvantaged household (Success Network assists students to determine if they meet this criteria) or
- Have a documented disability
The Success Network at SCC began in the 1980s to increase student retention and graduation rates. Every year, SCC submits an annual performance report to the Department of Education, which determines continued funding.
For more information on the SCC Success Network and additional student support services offered by the College, please contact the SCC Admissions Center at (864) 592-4800 or visit the SCC website at www.sccsc.edu/resources/dev/success.
About Spartanburg Community College.
SCC offers more than 80 academic programs of study including associate degrees, diplomas and certificates plus University Transfer opportunities to four-year universities. SCC provides flexible class scheduling including online classes through SCCOnline, FlexStart classes, evening classes and more. The College also offers non-credit classes through the SCC Corporate & Community Education Division. For more information visit www.sccsc.edu.
