Monmouth College just received a $1.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support first-generation students, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities. This grant is called the TRIO Student Support Services grant.
The grant will open new opportunities for Monmouth students by expanding academic, financial, and career support for those who need it most. Jennifer Sanberg, Associate Registrar at the Center for Academic and Career Excellence, was the lead on writing the grant proposal.
“The $1.3 million grant will be distributed over the next five years, allowing Monmouth to serve about 140 students each year, providing academic advising and coaching, financial literacy programming, career development, and graduate school preparation,” said Sanberg.
Sandberg worked alongside Marnie Steach, Executive Director of Career Readiness, Advising, and Student Success, to write the grant.
“Marnie and I served as the project managers during the grant-writing process. That meant coordinating the proposal, working closely with departments across campus, gathering data, and making sure our plan met all federal TRIO requirements,” said Sanberg. “It was definitely a detailed and collaborative process, but a really rewarding one because everyone involved believed in what this program could do for our students.”
The TRIO grant will help students succeed in classes, career plans, and future goals. The money from this grant will give students access to personalized academic advising and tutoring, career exploration, graduate school prep, internship support, leadership, and cultural development opportunities.
Additionally, Sanberg said, “This grant will make a real difference for students who might face extra challenges in completing their degrees. It gives them access to more one-on-one support, mentoring, and resources to help them stay on track and reach their goals. Looking ahead, it also strengthens Monmouth’s overall commitment to student success, ensuring we can continue providing opportunities for every student to thrive.”
The TRIO Student Support Services grant will help more students reach graduation and prepare them for beyond college.