Purpose of the Program
Student Support Services (SSS) is a comprehensive federally funded TRIO program that offers academic assistance to 160 undergraduate students at The University of West Alabama.
The goal of SSS is to increase retention and graduation rates of eligible students through various forms of academic assistance, counseling, advising, and other forms of individualized support services.
There is no charge to students for any of the program offerings available through Student Support Services.
Benefits of Membership
- Academic, career, financial, and personal counseling and advising
- Tutoring in requested subjects (In core courses and beyond)
- Eligibility for grant money on a semester by semester basis
- Leadership opportunities within SSS
- Access to private SSS computer lab
- Check out textbooks and calculators for various courses
- Opportunities to participate in selected SSS sponsored cultural events and trips
Responsibilities of an SSS Member
1st Year Students:
- Meet with the counselor 3 times each semester
- Attend weekly tutoring sessions in a course of their choosing
- Maintain a 2.25 GPA to be eligible for SSS grant money
- Ask for help when it is needed
- Be motivated to graduate!
2nd Year – 6th Year Students:
- Meet with the counselor twice each semester
- Maintain a 2.25 GPA to be eligible for SSS grant money
- Ask for help when it is needed
- Be motivated to graduate!
Criteria for Eligibility
Any undergraduate student who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, has been accepted for enrollment at The University of West Alabama, has a program-approved academic need* for assistance, and meets one or more of the following federal criteria is eligible to submit an application:
- Is a first generation college student (if you lived with both parents, both parents/guardians did not graduate from a four-year college or university, if you lived with only one parent, that parent did not graduate from a four-year college or university). You are not first generation if you lived with both parents and either parent graduated from a four-year college or university
OR - Is eligible for financial aid at a level established by the U.S. Department of Education
OR - Is a student with a documented disability (physical or learning)
*Academic need, as defined for purposes of Student Support Services, include any one or more of the following:
- High school GPA of 2.5 or below
- ACT score of 16-18 (total score or any one sub-test)
- Placement in Math 090 or EH 099
- College cumulative GPA of 2.0 or below
- Semester GPA of 2.0 or below
- Failing grades in one or more courses
- Returning adult students (5 or more years since attended school)
- In danger of losing scholarship award
- Enrollment in highly demanding and stressful courses of study, including nursing and premedical majors
Becoming a Participant
Students can apply to become a participant in the SSS program at any point in their undergraduate career (freshman to senior) and at any point in the semester. Participation in the program is on a first-come, first-served basis. If a student is deemed eligible to receive services and space is available in the program, the student will be admitted to the SSS program.
The SSS roster fills quickly each year. We encourage interested students to file an application with us by the first week of fall semester. Most students are added to the roster in the fall semester, although there are often some openings in the spring semester.
Once we have received your application we will notify you by email to come in to interview with one of our staff members. Be sure to check your email regularly at the start of both fall and spring semesters!
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