Overview
TRIO-SSS (Student Support Services) is a grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Its goal is to serve 140 first-year college students who are first generation, have high financial need, and/or need additional learning support. The program offers individualized ongoing case management and opportunities to receive financial literacy, tutoring, counseling, mentoring, career and transfer planning, cultural enrichment, and an annual $1,000 TRIO scholarship and a $500 completion award with the goal of increasing retention and completion.
Accomplishments
Scholarships awarded to date total $130,000 to approximately 130 students. Each academic year about 50+ students are awarded. The scholarship is divided over two semesters to award persistence from fall to spring. Of students who were awarded a scholarship in the fall, 92% persisted through spring semester.
- There are currently 139 of 140 students meeting and exceeding all of the U.S. Department of Education metrics for serving first-generation and low-income students, including students with disabilities.
- In terms of progress and completion, 80% of TRIO students are persisting from one semester to the next.
- Due to the various degree programs and goals of TRIO students (certificates, associates, and transfer without degree completion), the number of students who “complete” varies each semester. On average, between and 10 students graduate or transfer each semester. To date, 24 students have completed (graduated/transferred).
- The number of completers will multiply exponentially toward the end of the grant cycle in 2025 as more students who are not enrolled full-time reach their goals. Example: In 2021-22 eight students completed; in 2022-23, 16 students completed.
- The grade point average of TRIO students averaged 2.75, with over 60% of TRIO students earning a 3.0 or above.
Impact
The aim of TRIO SSS is to ease new college students’ anxieties about the college process and environment that they are unfamiliar with and may not have family examples or support to draw from. The program staff do this by providing a sense of belonging and security with a dedicated team available to guide them as the students navigate the opportunities and challenges of college.
Next Steps
- Program staff will refine and add services that will aid in improving TRIO students’ retention, persistence, and completion metrics.
- Staff will develop more targeted interventions with students who demonstrate challenges and struggles early in the semester via indicators such as lack of participation in case management, lack of attendance to events, academic early alerts, and withdrawal reports.
- Staff will develop more cultural enrichment opportunities and seek partnerships with affinity departments who take students to visit colleges/universities.