The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Support Services (SSS) program — which focuses on retention and graduation rates — awarded the funding, the office of U.S. Representative Anthony Brindisi (D–Utica) said in a Monday news release.
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) joined Brindisi in announcing the grant funding.
Utica College and Binghamton University were each awarded $261,888 and Cazenovia College was given $350,568. All three grants cover the period from September 2020 through August 2021. It is anticipated that the grant awards will be for a total of five years.
The schools will use the funds to help retain students, increase graduation rates, and assist first-generation college students.
The SSS program aids higher-education institutions in providing opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and motivates students to successfully complete their college education.