Grant Details

The purpose of the SSS Program is to increase the number of disadvantaged, low-income college students, first-generation college students, and college students with disabilities in the United States who successfully complete a program of study at the postsecondary level. The support services that are provided should increase the retention and graduation rates for these categories of students and facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year colleges and universities. The support services should also foster an institutional climate that supports the success of students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are historically underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths, students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, and other disconnected students. Student support services should also improve the financial and economic literacy of students.

All SSS projects must provide:

• academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects;
• advice and assistance in postsecondary course selection, assist students with information on both the full range of student financial aid programs, benefits and resources for locating public and private scholarships;
• assistance in completing financial aid applications;
• education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy and assist students in applying for admission to graduate and professional programs;
• and assist students enrolled in two-­year institutions and applying for admission to, and obtaining financial assistance for enrollment in four­-year programs.

The SSS projects may also provide:

• individualized counseling for personal, career, and academic information, activities, and instruction designed to acquaint students with career options;
• exposure to cultural events and academic programs not usually available;
• mentoring programs, securing temporary housing during breaks for students who are homeless youths and students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system.

This notice contains two competitive preference priorities. These priorities are:

• Competitive Preference Priority 1— Meet Student Social, Emotional, and Academic Needs (up to 3 points). Projects that are designed to improve students' social, emotional, academic, and career development needs, with a focus on underserved students, by creating education and work-based settings that are supportive, positive, identity-safe and inclusive, including with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, language, and disability status, through the following activity: Supporting students to engage in high-quality, real-world, hands-on learning that is aligned with classroom instruction and takes place in community-based settings, such as apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, work-based learning, and service learning, and in civic activities, that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills, strengthen their employability skills, such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, and effective communication, and access career exploration opportunities.
• Competitive Preference Priority 2— Increasing Postsecondary Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment Success (up to 5 points). Projects that are designed to increase postsecondary access, affordability, completion, and success for underserved students by addressing one or both of the following priority areas:
  • Increasing postsecondary education access and reducing the cost of college by creating clearer pathways for students between institutions and making transfer of course credits more seamless and transparent (up to 2 points).
  • Establishing a system of high-quality data collection and analysis, such as data on enrollment, persistence, retention, completion, and post-college outcomes, for transparency, accountability, and institutional improvement (up to 3 points).