August 06, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, celebrated more than $5 million in grants to aid Maine’s colleges and universities efforts to support low-income and first generation college students. A total of $5,082,580 has been awarded through the Department of Education’s Student Support Services Program, a federally-funded TRIO program that works to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.
“The coronavirus pandemic has upended the previous model of postsecondary education, and colleges and universities are scrambling to make adjustments,” said Senator King. “This funding will help Maine’s schools continue to offer support to low-income and first generation college students, so these young people can continue to complete their studies and gain the tools they need for success. The TRIO programs have helped countless Maine students grow, thrive, and become community leaders, and I’m thrilled that this funding will ensure the coronavirus pandemic does not change that storied record of success.”
The funding was awarded as follows:
During the coronavirus pandemic, Senator King has worked to ensure that Maine’s colleges and universities have the resources they need to continue to educate Maine’s future leaders. Last week, he participated in a teleconference with student veterans from the University of Maine system to discuss challenges they face as nontraditional students and opportunities to better support their studies. He also pushed back on the Administration’s later-abandoned decision which would have ended temporary exemptions that allow nonimmigrant college students on F-1 and M-1 visas to remain in the country, even if their school has shifted to an online-only format.
