The U.S. Department of Education announced The University of New Mexico's Student Support Services (SSS) TRIO program is one of 15 programs at colleges across the state to receive grant funding to help provide academic and other support to low-income, first-generation and disabled college students. 

TRIO logo

The more than $1 million award will be distributed:

  • Main Campus | $294,721
  • UNM Gallup | $280,016
  • UNM Taos |  $261,853
  • UNM Valencia | $261,888

Funding begins in September for the fall semester. The award amount is for the first year, but it is expected to be renewed each year for five years.

"We are thrilled to once again receive this grant which will help us continue to serve first-generation and high financial need students and help them stay in school and graduate," said Dawn Blue Sky-Hill, UNM SSS program manager. "The SSS TRIO program is dedicated to close the education gap and make college accessible to students who may have been otherwise marginalized."

SSS is a steady resource for program participants through their senior year. Services include academic tutoring, information and assistance concerning financial aid programs and benefits and counseling services geared toward improving financial and economic literacy. The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs are designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist high financial need individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.