GREENSBURG, PA- Seton Hill’s TRIO program, under the direction of Marcia Pratt, associate dean of student life and director of the Collegiate Academic and Personal Success (CAPS) program, recently received a five-year $214,220 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Seton Hill’s was one of only 90 programs in the nation to receive five-year funding status. The grant will provide funding for the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Writing Labs in addition to academic, personal and career counseling for students. The grant helps faculty and staff retain and graduate students who begin college under-prepared. “This is the first time our program has received the five-year funding status,” Pratt said. “It’s wonderful to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for providing to students the necessary help they need to be successful at Seton Hill.” Pratt associates the success of the program to the excellent student tutorial systems, both from staff and other students, and the caring assistance of Student Life personnel. The TRIO program also recently received a $5,000 grant from the Department of Education for technology and a $27,000 grant from the Department of Education to provide supplemental grant aid to students. The technology grant will provide for the purchase of new computers, training and software. The supplemental grant aid is designed for students who cannot fulfill their financial needs or are overly dependent on student loans.