Four-year, $1.4 million federal grant going to SEMO

Southeast Missouri State University has been awarded a $1.4 million, four-year federal grant for continued funding of student support services, a federal program designed to assist low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities.

Southeast officials said competition was fierce for the federal money and 10 percent of existing student support programs didn't receive continued funding.

Along with a remaining year left in the grant awarded to Southeast in June 2001, the program will continue at the Cape Girardeau school through 2010, officials said.

The new grant will begin in August 2006.

The student support services program at Southeast began in 1990 with a four-year grant. It was renewed in 1993, 1997 and 2001.

With the latest grant, the program will focus more on non-traditional students who need assistance, Southeast officials said.

The goal of student support services is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of participants, officials said.

The program is one of three federally funded programs at Southeast known as the Trio programs that are designed to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and participate more fully in the nation's economic and social life, university officials said.