On Aug. 8, 2025, the Viterbo Community received the news from President Trietley that TRIO/Student Service Program grant is not being renewed by the U.S. Department of Education. For years, Viterbo’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program served as a vital resource for students navigating both academic and personal challenges. Funded through a federal grant, TRIO offered individualized support to students who qualified based on factors such as first-generation status, financial need, or other eligibility criteria. The program provided more than tutoring; it created a space where members could seek academic guidance, financial literacy help, and professional development opportunities while also building a sense of belonging.
Viterbo was one of 22 institutions nationwide not renewed during this cycle due to newly clarified federal expectations regarding how programs describe the populations they serve and their approaches to programming. Although the grant loss marks the end of TRIO at Viterbo, its impact continues to resonate. In response, Viterbo has launched the Hub for Student Success, an initiative designed to maintain and expand support services for all students. Located on the third floor of Murphy Center, the Hub brings together the Academic Resource Center, Advising and Career Development, and Accessibility Services under one umbrella.
“The Hub is designed to be a central place where students know they can ask questions,” explained Alyssa Gostonczik. “Much like TRIO, we want to be that connection point. If a student doesn’t know who to turn to, we’ll help them find the answer.”
Third year, English Major, Ava Stoeckly reflected on the transition: “I’ve been part of TRIO since my freshman year where I built connections with professors, counseling, and other resources. It was the program that helped me out of my shell, so coming back to campus and realizing it was gone was difficult—especially losing those close connections with TRIO—even though I still have support through professors, etc.” For many students, TRIO represented not only academic support but also a trusted point of contact on campus.
Staff often describe the Hub using the image of a bicycle wheel: each office and service functions as a spoke, connected at the center to provide holistic support. Whether students need tutoring, help with study strategies, accessibility accommodations, or career guidance, the Hub’s goal is to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
Many of TRIO’s academic supports remain in place. Writing, reading, math, and study skills assistance continue, alongside testing services and tutoring. Viterbo maintains its long-standing commitment to provide a tutor for every course, though staff note that coordinating schedules and resources is an ongoing challenge. Change, administrators acknowledge, is not easy. Gostonczik said, “It’s difficult when we can see it coming, and even harder when it lands suddenly,” Gostonczik also shared “But every member of the Hub has adapted, shifted their roles, and committed to ensuring students still have access to strong support.”
As Viterbo students adjust to this new structure, the university emphasizes that the spirit of TRIO—personalized care, reliable guidance, and community support—remains a guiding influence on how it approaches student success moving forward.
Furthermore, the HUB will be having a grand opening on Oct. 9 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. They invite students to stop by and learn more about the services they offer, enjoy food, and participate in a prize drawing. Staff members wish to see everyone there.
