Molloy to get $1.1 million federal grant

Molloy College will be the recipient of more than $1.1 million in federal grant money over the next five years, which will help low-income, disabled and first-generation college students, and veterans, attend the school and graduate.

The money, which comes from the Department of Education, will be doled out in increments of $234,745 per year. It will go to Molloy’s TRIO Student Support Services program, part of a federal program that goes by the same name, which has been helping students since 2001.

Molloy’s TRIO program is a collection of services that help students who qualify for aid under the federal TRIO programs. “This investment will assist Molloy College in delivering invaluable educational opportunities and resources for students who need it most,” U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a release. “Through comprehensive programs including financial aid, counseling and tutoring, the TRIO Support Services program will help our students get the foundation they need to graduate, get good jobs and have successful careers.”

Since joining the federal TRIO program in 2001, Molloy has helped 160 students every year. Many have some kind of academic need — low high school grades, low admission test scores, an absence from school for more than five years, a lack of proficiency in English, or many others.

Many of the students fall into more than one category. They may have an academic need and be the first in their family to attend college. “Their parents either didn’t go to college or didn’t finish, so they didn’t have any role models for higher education,” said Nicolette Ceo, the director of Molloy’s academic support services and the school’s TRIO program.

Molloy will also be able to use the money to give qualifying students help in competitive majors, such as biology or nursing. “Students need, generally, a C-plus or better to progress in their major,” Ceo said.