The U.S. Department of Education has awarded five-year TRIO grants totaling more than $2 million to fund the Student Support Services programs at Wallace Community College Selma.

The Student Support Services offers supplemental services to improve retention and graduation rates of 300 participants who are first-generation students, are eligible based on income or who have disabilities. This funding is from Sept. 1, 2010 through Aug. 31, 2015.

“The Student Support Services program is an important component of the college’s retention and diversity efforts,” said Kathy Moore, director of Student Support Services and writer of the grant proposals. “The student support program at WCCS has been an integral part of the institution since 1976.”