PTCC Awarded $1.3 Million Federal TRIO Grant to Support Student Success
Pine City, MN — Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC) has been awarded a $272,364 annual grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program. The award is renewable for up to five years, representing an anticipated total of more than $1.3 million in federal funding to help first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities achieve academic success.
The SSS Program is one of eight federal TRIO programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. PTCC’s SSS program will provide comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support to eligible students, with the goal of improving college retention, graduation, and transfer rates.
The program will offer services including academic tutoring, advising, mentoring, financial literacy education, and assistance with FAFSA and scholarship applications. SSS participants will also benefit from transfer planning, cultural enrichment activities, and career exploration opportunities.
“Many of our students are balancing work, family, and academics while being the first in their families to attend college,” said Robin Johnson, PTCC’s Dean of Student Success. “TRIO provides not just resources, but community. It is a place where students feel supported and guided through every step of their college journey.”
The TRIO SSS program will serve approximately 140 PTCC students each year, helping them persist in their studies, graduate, and successfully transfer to four-year institutions when applicable. To support this important work, PTCC will use a portion of the grant funds to expand its Student Success team by hiring three new staff members.
This award underscores PTCC’s continued commitment to equity, access, and student achievement. With this funding, the college joins a network of TRIO institutions across the country that are dedicated to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.