Rogers State University will discontinue one of its four federally funded student assistance programs at the end of the summer.
The Student Support Services program will not be available after Aug. 31, said Dr. Tobie Titsworth, RSU vice president for student affairs.
The U.S. Department of Education, which provides an annual grant to support the Student Support Services program, determined it will not award the grant during the next academic year due to an incomplete application, Titsworth said.
RSU will continue to offer its other federally funded student support programs, including the Educational Opportunity Center, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound, also known as TRiO programs.
Many services offered by Student Support Services will continue to be available at RSU through other offices, Titsworth said.
RSU also will continue to offer a comprehensive advising program for all students through one-on-one faculty advising available through its three academic schools.
The Student Support Services program provides academic advising, counseling and other support programs to first-generation, financially disadvantaged students at RSU. A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parents did not earn a four-year degree.
“RSU remains firmly committed to the success of our first-generation and financially disadvantaged students,” he said. “A full range of advising, academic support and financial aid will still be available to all of our students.”
RSU plans to re-apply for the federal funds next year in an effort to re-instate the program, Titsworth said.
Three and three-quarters staff positions, held by four people, will be eliminated as a result of the dissolution of the program. However, staff members will be provided the opportunity to apply for other positions at the university, Titsworth said.
For more information on other student support programs at RSU, call (918) 343-7761 or visit the TRiO Programs web site.