Saint Peter’s University was recently awarded a renewed $1.3 million TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) federal grant, ensuring that the Jersey City institution can continue providing support to first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities through 2030.
TRIO SSS is part of a broader family of federal programs that deliver academic, personal and financial guidance to students who face barriers in their pursuit of higher education. At Saint Peter’s, these services include advising, financial literacy resources, graduate school preparation and holistic personal support.
For Sarah Smyth, director of TRIO Student Support Services, the grant renewal is more than a professional milestone — it is personal. Smyth is a first-generation college graduate and an alumna of New Jersey’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), a program similar in mission to TRIO.
“This work is deeply meaningful to me,” said Smyth, who has led the program for the past three years. “My mission has always been to pave the way for future generations and ensure that students feel supported as they blaze their own trails personally and professionally. Our students show tremendous resilience and determination.”
The program’s impact resonates with students.
Calvin Rosa, a business management major with minors in finance and political science, described TRIO SSS as a turning point in his academic and personal journey. Working full-time while juggling a demanding course load left him overwhelmed and uncertain.
“TRIO SSS offered me something invaluable — a second chance not just in my academic career, but in stabilizing my life,” he shared.
The renewed TRIO SSS grant will allow Saint Peter’s to strengthen academic development, expand retention initiatives and enhance the holistic resources available to students who need them.
