Seton Hill gets $1.7 million federal grant for students in need

Seton Hill University got a $1.7 million federal grant to benefit students who need a helping hand.

The money will fund the university’s TRIO Student Support Services program for the next five years.

Many universities have federally funded TRIO programs. Seton Hill’s was established in 1979.

The program helps students who come from low-income families, are first-generation college students or have disabilities.

“The renewal of Seton Hill’s TRIO Student Support Services grant for another five years will allow the university to provide critically important resources to help our students achieve academic success,” university President Mary C. Finger said in a statement.

There currently are 170 students who benefit from the program. These students are each paired with an academic coach who can help guide them through their time in college, said Connie Kugel, director of TRIO Student Support Services.

“It’s kind of like their go-to person to help them through the good and the hard times they might be having,” Kugel said.

The program also provides students with tutoring, career counseling and tuition assistance.

“Seton Hill TRIO students have historically been successful at the university, persisting from one academic year to the next and graduating from the university at high rate,” Finger said.

The $1.7 million grant represents an increase of about $56,000 over the last five-year period. This additional money will be used to create new virtual workshops to help students, Kugel said.

“We’re hoping in the future to have additional programs added each and every grant cycle so we can serve more and more students,” she said.