Bluefield State College News August 11, 2010 Student Support Services Program at BSC Receives Federal Grant Renewal for Five Years, $368K Awarded in 2010-11 (Bluefield)—The Student Support Services (SSS) program at Bluefield State College will receive federal funding for a five-year cycle, beginning September 1, 2010. Carolyn Kirby, SSS Interim Director at BSC, recently received official notification of the grant renewal from the U.S. Department of Education. Grant funding for next fiscal year will exceed $368,000, permitting BSC to continue to offer educational assistance to economically disadvantaged and/or first-generation college students, and students with a physical or learning disability. The grant money will extend over the next five years, according to U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. “We’re gratified that the U.S. Department of Education has approved our grant application,” Kirby noted. “The Student Support Services program at BSC helps 240 students each year to move toward successful completion of their postsecondary education.” SSS helps students in the program at BSC improve their class performance, stay in college, and graduate, and provides a wide range of services that includes tutoring/mentoring, advising (academic, career, and financial), seminars/workshops, cultural travel, and personal counseling. During the most recent reporting year, students in the program exceeded national averages for retention (matriculating successfully from freshman to sophomore years) and maintaining good academic standing. Kirby expressed special appreciation to members of the BSC community for its support. “We are extremely pleased as a staff that we can continue to provide the program’s very timely services to students at Bluefield State College,” Kirby noted. “Student Support Services has helped thousands of students for more than 35 years at BSC and we look forward to helping many more in the next four years.” SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org www.hbculibraries.org 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.