The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received a highly competitive U.S. Department of Education federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant totaling more than $2.27 million to help 265 students annually over the next five years.

The UH Mānoa SSS program helps increase graduation and retention rates of first generation college students and those with high financial need. The grant will provide many services, including academic advising for all majors, financial aid advice, career and graduate school mentoring, and referrals to other services. Such services enhance academic success and increase the likelihood that students will graduate with the lowest possible debt.

“Last year the SSS program had a 98 percent retention rate, and we regularly have about an 80 percent graduation rate each year. Much of this is due to the close relationships we develop with our students,” said Barbara Watanabe, SSS director. “We are able to give personalized information to help them graduate as efficiently as possible and write strong letters of recommendations for scholarships, jobs and graduate schools.”

For more information, contact Barbara Watanabe, Director/Academic Advisor at (808) 956-8402.

See the article at manoa.hawaii.edu/news/.