Wenatchee Valley College receives $1.1 million Student Support Services grant

Media Contacts: Carli Schiffner, vice president of instruction, 509.682.6605 and Susan Murray, executive director of institutional effectiveness, 509.682.6435.

August 25, 2015

Wenatchee Valley College has been awarded a five-year, $1.1 million TRIO Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will help a minimum of 140 students on both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses complete their college education.

Student Support Services helps low-income, first generation and disabled students to stay in college and successfully earn degrees and certificates. Eligible students who are military veterans have priority for enrollment in the program. Grant services include academic advising, academic tutoring, financial aid advising, financial literacy instruction, academic progress monitoring, scholarship advising, study skills instruction, transfer assistance, career counseling, job shadowing, mentoring, university campus visits and more.

The program will begin fall quarter 2015. Students must be admitted to WVC to participate. Information and application materials will be available to students in Wenatchee and Omak.

"This grant is available only once every five years. It is extremely competitive," said WVC president Jim Richardson. "We are excited to begin offering the program at WVC and help more students overcome barriers to achieve their higher education goals."

The first year award is $219,999.

Wenatchee Valley College currently holds two, additional five-year grants through the U.S. Department of Education; the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and Title III Strengthening Institutions grant.

Wenatchee Valley College Student Support Services grant totals $1.1 million over five years and is 100 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Education.