Simpson receives five-year federal grant to establish student support program

Simpson College has received a $220,000 five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a Student Support Services program to provide assistance to students who are first-generation college students, who have a limited income or a documented disability.

According to the program’s new director, Graeme Armstrong, Student Support Services seeks to help students overcome social and cultural barriers to higher education. “We will work very hard to identify those students who might need a little extra help, then recruit them into the program,” he said. “We’ll be able to evaluate their skills and provide the type of counseling, mentoring and planning that will help them succeed on the college level.”

Simpson’s Student Support Services is affiliated with the federal TRIO Program, established as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which provides funds to ensure equal educational opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstances.

Simpson’s grant, among the largest approved by the government for similar program, was prepared by a group of administrators and faculty members, including the project leader, Jim Thorius, vice president for student development; Bruce Haddox, dean of academic affairs; Todd Little, director of the Hawley Academic Resource Center; Coryanne Harrigan, assistant professor of English; Walter Lain, assistant dean for multicultural and international affairs; Denice Ross Haynes, director for career planning and Carmen Bratz, grant writer.