TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is 100% funded by U.S. Department of Education to serve 1,000 students across the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED) which is the governing structure for the five colleges in rural northeast Minnesota. They are:
* Hibbing Community College in Hibbing
* Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids
* Mesabi Range College in Virginia
* Rainy River Communit
y College in International Falls
* Vermilion Community College in Ely
As part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system, these open enrollment institutions are led by one president in partnership with college provosts, a chief human resources officer, and vice president of finance and administration. The institutions are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer certificates and associate's degrees in both liberal education and occupational curricula. The NHED SSS project provides support services to the high majority of enrolled students that meet the eligibility criteria of first generation college-going, of limited income, or having a disability. Project goals are to increase the persistence, academic standing, graduation, and four-year transfer rates of participants. Services include academic instruction and tutoring, academic advising/coaching for course selection, academic guidance on degree majors, career exploration, assistance with financial aid information and applications including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), education in financial and economic literacy, and transfer assistance with enrollment applications and financial aid process for students entering a four-year program of study at a college or university.
