Best Practices: Student Support Services
University Communications University Reporter ECOS Researchers Examine Environmental Damage from the World Trade Center Attacks Noam Chomsky Speaks at UMass Boston’s Human Rights Forum State Budget Cuts Mean Spending Reductions, First Fee Increase in Five Years Campus Strides Forward with Technology Clark Taylor Retires: Son Jeff Taylor’s Gift Establishes Technology Center in Father’s Name Benchmarks Analyst Clayton-Matthews Tracks Massachusetts Economy Best Practices: Student Support Services English Professor Betsy Klimasmith Receives NEH Fellowship Africana Studies Department Celebrates First Homecoming Compston Biography of Earl Warren, “Justice for All” Philosophy Professor Examines Race and Racism New Book on Latino Politics in Massachusetts Greater Boston Broadband Network Comes Into Focus Steelwork Begins on New Campus Center PeopleSoft Goes Live on Campus Campus Notes Calendar of Events Subrmit a Calendar Event	by Susan Bartzak-Graham Student Support Services is a federally funded project which helps retain and graduate first-generation, low-income college students and students with disabilities. These students face a number of barriers to successful completion of post-secondary education, including insufficient financial resources. In September, 1,700 student support services projects across the country were invited to apply for a College Completion Challenge Grant. The grant would provide aid for first and second-year students, those who are often the most vulnerable to withdrawal. To qualify for the grant, institutions were required to provide matching funds. UMass Boston received $42,437 from the Department of Education and through the leadership of the Provost’s Office, deans, and senior administrators, $20,902 in university funds were identified for the required match. The end result? A total of $63,339 in new scholarship dollars is now available for student support services participants. In identifying grant recipients, our priority was to decrease unmet need, reduce or eliminate loan burden, and reduce student’s work-study obligation. Ninety-five students will receive a grant averaging $650. What difference will this make? Realistically, $650 is only a small part of the total cost of education. Yet, freshman Bich-Hop Doan says that her grant will help her to buy books next semester, enable her to work fewer hours, and still continue to help support her family. She is excited about being able to put more time into her studies. Freshman Olavo “Billy” Gomes, agrees. Employed 24-hours a week, a member of the basketball team, and a new father, Billy says that he can now pay for his books, and will use whatever is left over for transportation and parking. The awards may seem small, but the grants will alleviate some of the financial pressure that low-income students face. The College Completion Challenge Grant is a unique collaboration across the entire university and an important opportunity to provide much needed support to students. Susan Bartzak-Graham is the director of Student Support Services, a federally funded TRIO program serving 500 students. back to top

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