$557K Salem State Grant To Aid Student Retention, Graduation Rates

SALEM, MA — Salem State University officials said the school will use a $557,750 federal TRIO Student Support Services grant to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Education program empowers students to overcome barriers to success through individualized services, including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring.

"This grant allows Salem State to deepen our commitment to ensuring that all students — regardless of background — can thrive academically and personally," said Kevin Linton PhD, the program's director. "Student Support Services helps level the playing field and equips our students with the tools and confidence to graduate and lead."

The university said it earned a perfect score on its recent grant proposal from the U.S. Department of
Education's review team.

"TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS in particular transform 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."

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• Danvers, Salem, Peabody Schools Awarded 'High-Dosage' State Tutoring Grants
• 8 MA Colleges Make LinkedIn List Of 50 Best For Long-Term Career Success

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)