(San Antonio, TX, May 12, 2005) ­ The Department of Counseling and Student Development at San Antonio College received a five-year $2.13 million Student Support Services (SSS) Program grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education to continue the SSS Project at SAC, which has effectively served more than 12,000 eligible students over 30 years.

With the new grant funds, the Project will annually provide academic support services to 400 eligible low income, first generation and/or disabled students attending San Antonio College, who demonstrate academic need including remediation, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and those students not having a regular high school diploma (GED).

Services offered include career, academic, and personal counseling, tutoring, mentoring, supplemental out-of-class instruction, financial aid assistance, computer literacy training, and various opportunities to participate in leadership and cultural enrichment activities.

Objectives include retention of 70 percent of each SSS cohort not graduating or transferring, and to exceed the college¹s average of approximately 10 percent who attain a degree or certificate and/or transfer to a four-year institution.

Under the administration of Counseling and Student Development Chair Jim Lucchelli, Ph.D., within the Student Affairs Division, the Project Director is Wynette Hadnott Keller.

Enrollment for the 2005-06 SSS Project will begin immediately. Counselors and staff are currently available to assist students apply to receive services from the Project. For information, call (210) 733-2755.