Purpose Statement:
TRIO: Student Support Services is dedicated to working with each accepted student to achieve his/her goals. Student Support Services helps participants to stay in school, maintain good academic standing, and to help them graduate and/or transfer to a four year college.
Who are we?
Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education designed to assist low-income, first-generation students graduate from college. TRIO programs began in 1964 with Upward Bound which was created through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Talent Search followed as a part of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The third program, Special Services, currently known as Student Support Services, was authorized in the Higher Education Act of 1968. The name TRIO was then adopted to represent the three programs. In subsequent years, several other programs were added (Upward Bound Math Science, Veterans Upward Bound, and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Programs) yet the TRIO name has remained. VWCC’s Student Support Services has been on campus since 1975.
Program Expectations
For academic success, program participants are expected to:
- Meet with your Student Support Services Coach at least 3X's per semester
- Attend one cultural enrichment or social program per semester
- Discuss early alerts with your Student Support Services Coach
- Attend all classes, on time, and complete all assignments
- Make a commitment to the program until graduation
- Keep scheduled appointments
- Discuss extenuating circumstances with instructors and let Student Support Services Coaches know if you need assistance
- Seek advising assistance on appropriate courses and course load
- Submit FAFSA by the priority deadline
What services do we provide?
All services are provided at no cost to participants:
- Educational, financial, vocational, & short-term personal counseling
- PRIORITY one-on-one tutoring in up to two classes per se- mester in most academic subiects Instruction in academic skill building and learning strategies
- Assistance in transferring to four-year colleges/universities
- Information and assistance in completing financial aid applications
- Academic advising and priority registration
- Culturally enriching field trips and extracurricular activities, as funds permit
- Appropriate referrals to other college offices/personnel and lo- cal community agencies
- Financial & economic awareness
- Access to TRIO quiet/study rooms
Student informed consent
VWCC Student Support Services staff may consult with each other in order to provide you with the best assistance available. Per-
sonal information will remain confidential unless we are legally required to make an exception. Exceptions are as follows:
- If there is reasonable cause to believe that you are a danger to yourself or others.
- If we suspect, or are informed of, abuse of children or vulnerable adults.
- If you are involved in criminal or civil proceedings, we may be required, by court subpoena, to release records and/or testify.
I give the VWCC Student Support Services program permission to obtain and/or release information on my behalf for the reasons listed. By signing below, Student Support Services has permission to:
- Obtain information necessary to establish eligibility for program services and report student progress information to the U. S. Department of Education to demonstrate program effectiveness.
- Share educational/limited information with those concerned about academic progress such as: Vice President’s office, Professors, Advisers, Financial Aid, Office of Disability Services etc.
This agreement remains in effect during my years as a student at Virginia Western Community College. If you have any questions about services, confidentiality or other legal or ethical concerns, please discuss this with any of the staff of VWCC Student Support Services.