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FVSU TRIO Student Support Services Exceeds Federal Performance Objectives for 2024–2025
Posted on Mar 05, 2026 at 12:22 PM
The Fort Valley State University (FVSU) TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program has surpassed all federally established performance objectives for the 2024–2025 project year.
Funded entirely through TRIO grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the program served 140 students this academic year. 85% of whom are first-generation college students.
Federal TRIO Programs are outreach and student support initiatives designed to assist income-eligible students, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities in succeeding in higher education. Because TRIO funding is competitive, programs must meet strict performance benchmarks and submit an Annual Performance Report each year to maintain funding. Each grant operates on a five-year cycle, with programs required to meet or exceed expectations, particularly in years 2, 3 and 4.
For the 2024–2025 year, FVSU’s TRIO SSS program exceeded all required objectives.
One objective requires that 75% of participants persist or graduate during the academic year. FVSU TRIO achieved a 94% persistence rate. Another objective mandates that 60% of students remain in good academic standing. An impressive 95% of TRIO scholars met that mark. The third objective requires that 35% of each cohort graduate within six years. FVSU students reached a 67% graduation rate.
These numbers reflect more than compliance; they represent intentional support systems designed to close opportunity gaps.
“This work is so important, and we are changing the world through TRIO,” said Davida Curtis, Ph.D., who has served as project director for 14 years. “I just want to be the person I needed in college for my students at FVSU. We want to continue to bring new experiences and new opportunities for our scholars.”
TRIO Student Support Services at FVSU fills critical gaps that can often determine whether a student persists in college or leaves. The program provides tutoring services, structured academic advising, cultural enrichment experiences, graduate school preparation and one-on-one mentorship to ensure that students are not navigating higher education alone, especially those who may be the first in their families to attend college.
Despite the evolving challenges students face, from academic pressures to financial and personal responsibilities, TRIO’s outcomes this year demonstrate resilience and a sustained commitment to excellence.
Beyond undergraduate success, TRIO also helps prepare students for advanced academic pathways. The McNair Scholars component focuses on juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in graduate education, guiding them toward research opportunities and eventual doctoral study.
One of the program’s goals for the upcoming year is to expand research grant aid opportunities for first- and second-year students. This early exposure will help prepare students to become McNair Scholars and strengthen their commitment to pursuing graduate education. By cultivating research skills early, the program is building a pipeline from FVSU to Ph.D. attainment.
Exceeding expectations in the 2024–2025 Annual Performance Report positions FVSU’s TRIO program strongly for continued federal support and emphasizes the university’s broader mission of educational access and upward mobility.
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