WSUV Introduces Student Support Services

Sharing office space with the Community and Collaboration office in the Undergraduate Building is TRiO-SSS, or Student Support Services, a new program at WSUV designed to support first generation, low income and disabled students.

TRiO-SSS is a national program that has been around since the 1960s, currently funded by a government grant. As stated in a recent Information Session held at WSUV, TRiO-SSS has a documented positive impact, with students in the program having a 21% higher chance of graduating and 98% have a 2.0 GPA or higher. The goal of the program at WSUV is to help students succeed, as well as continue to thrive post graduation.

The current staff working there is Director Elisha Hardekopf, Retention Specialist Myonne Peach, Marketing Intern Selena Truong, as well as Student Leaders Katrina Ramm and Safia Aweys.

TRiO-SSS will provide academic support, with things like early registration for classes, access to a 24/7 online tutoring service, scholarship application assistance and further one-on-one support to help with performance in class. 

The program will also provide career development, having workshops to help with financial aid application assistance, access to printing and computer resources, mentoring programs, networking opportunities, and internship search support. TRiO-SSS is connected with local internship programs and can help students to land an internship of their choosing. 

According to the TRiO-SSS WSUV webpage, to be eligible students must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at WSUV, be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen, be able to demonstrate academic need per federal TRIO guidelines, and meet one of the following requirements . . .

• A first generation student (neither parent/guideline earned a Bachelor’s degree)
• Have proof of being from a low income background (Per federal guidelines) 
• Have a documented disability

Once accepted, scholars will be expected to meet regularly with their assigned academic coordinator and keep an individualized academic plan. They will also be expected to participate in workshops, events or “required program components.” Finally, they will be expected to complete periodic forms, evaluations or check ins.

Students only have to enroll once and they will stay enrolled until they graduate. Students can enroll by completing the application online, alongside the Income Verification form (found on the same page as the application), and if accepted students will then meet with an advisor in the program.