A $1.1 million federal grant will assist Front Range Community College with providing essential services to a growing population in Colorado of at-risk first-generation students.
The five-year TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education will be used at the Westminster Campus. TRIO programs are outreach and student services programs to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. FRCC’s grant falls under the Student Support Services (SSS) umbrella.
Students who are low income, first generation, or that have a documented disability, while also evidencing an academic need, are eligible to participate.
FRCC’s program will address low academic achievement and high socioeconomic barriers that SSS-eligible students face as they enter postsecondary education.
FRCC will provide all essential services, including academic advising and course selection, academic tutoring, information and assistance with financial aid applications, financial literacy training, and support in preparation for transfer to a four-year institution.
Participants also will receive individual guidance for personal, career, and academic matters as well as career exploration and planning services.
The goal of the program is to increase college retention, transfer and graduation rates among participants.
Aaron Prestwich, dean of student services at the Westminster Campus, will oversee the operations involved with the grant, which will be providing funding for a TRIO director, counselor, and administrative assistant. Prestwich brought TRIO experience with him when he joined FRCC in 2013.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online.
FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System, the state’s largest system of higher education. CCCS serves more than 162,000 students annually. The system oversees career and academic programs in the 13 state community colleges and career and technical programs in more than 160 school districts and six other post-secondary institutions.
