TRIO Student Support Services Scholars Program

UWA's TRIO SSS Scholars Program is a grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The overlying goal of the program is to enable 160 participants annually to persist in college and to graduate with a bachelor’s degree within six years. Utilizing a comprehensive array of services, our scholars stay in college and graduate at higher rates than the general student population.

If you are interested please complete our online application form here.

Services Offered

As an SSS Scholar you will be eligible for the following free services and activities:

• Help completing KHEAA Verification before you come to campus
• Academic Coaching and Tutoring
• Academic Advising
• Skills workshops
• Assistance with FAFSA and federal aid
• Budgeting assistance
• Graduate school application assistance
• Personal counseling
• Access to the SSS technology center
• SSS grants (see eligibility requirements)
• SSS textbook grants
• Access to the SSS FLi Society textbook lending library

Apply here to become an SSS Scholar!

Registration

Join SSS over the summer before your freshman year and we will work one on one with you to create the best possible schedule for your needs. * To be eligible you must have paid your enrollment confirmation fee and registered for orientation. 

Help Completing KHEAA Verification

Our staff are available all summer long to assist you in navigating the verification process. We are here to answer questions and offer guidance in completing the process as quickly and simply as possible.

Academic Coaching and Tutoring

Coaching and tutoring are free and available to all SSS students. Tutoring is offered in most basic curriculum courses and some upper level courses. Individual or small-group sessions are held in the program's Tutorial Center and/or online using Zoom as a platform. Our coaches and tutors are high-achieving UWA students who have demonstrated their academic abilities and have shown a strong desire to help others. Many of them are also members of our program. Our coaches and tutors receive initial and ongoing training and support from our staff members.

Academic Advisement and Career Exploration

Members receive one-on-one academic advising each semester for course selections according to their majors. Students are encouraged to explore their interests and abilities to develop a clear career development plan with the support and guidance of their academic advisor.

Skills Workshops
The purpose of the workshops is to provide additional information that will enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of program participants on a variety of topics, including:    

• Financial Literacy
• Financial Aid Assistance
• Study Skills
• Stress Management
• Choosing a Career
• Improving your GPA
• Preparing for Graduate School
• Study Abroad 

Assistance with FAFSA and Scholarship Searches and Budgeting for College
All participants are provided with assistance in completing the FAFSA, KHEAA verification, and managing their federal aid each year. Our staff members also assist students with scholarship searches, understanding student loans and budgeting techniques.

Financial Assistance
The program awards scholarships annually to eligible, active members. To learn more about who is eligible and how to apply click here.

Graduate School Applications
Assistance in searching for and applying to graduate programs is available to all members. Whether you plan on staying at UWA to start your Master’s or intend to pursue your Ph.D., M.D., or other professional degree at another institution, we are here to help.

Personal Counseling
Our staff are available to all members in need of support on a variety of issues, problems and concerns. If necessary students will be referred to the UWA Counselor.

Technology Center
Members have access to a private computer lab used only by program participants. The room is located in Foust 2A and features new state-of-the-art Dell computers with high speed Internet access and a high speed networked printer. Free printing is available and staff members are always on hand to assist.

SSS Grants

Learn more about who is eligible for SSS grants on our grant aid eligibility page. 

SSS Textbook Grants

Apply for UWA bookstore gift certificates each semester.

SSS FLi Society Textbook Lending Library

Save money on textbooks by borrowing one from our lending library. To stay eligible to borrow you must be active in the SSS student group, The FLi Society.

UWA TRIO SSS Goals*

Persistence, Performance, Completion
Offering a broad array of services and support, our primary goal is student persistence, performance, and completion. These are the goals that we work to achieve or exceed, each year:

Persistence Goal
80% of all participants served by the UWA TRIO SSS Program will persist from one academic year to the beginning of the next academic year, or will have earned a bachelor’s degree.

Performance Goal
80% of all enrolled TRIO SSS participants served will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing at UWA.  

Completion Goal
40% of new participants served each year will graduate from UWA with a bachelor’s degree within six years.

*We have met or exceeded these goals in every year of our grant.