TRIO Student Support Services

Salisbury University's TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is an educational opportunity project that helps first-generation students, students with financial need and students with disabilities achieve their academic potential and personal goals.

TRIO/SSS Participant Application

Maximize Your Success

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the project acts as an advocate for qualified students, plans and coordinates their services, and provides support programs that help them develop academic, interpersonal and social skills they need for success at SU. The TRIO staff, as well as other offices across campus, help students reach their academic goals and maximize their potential for success.

TRIO Staff

Eligibility

You are eligible to receive services if you:

are enrolled at SU or accepted for enrollment for the next academic term
are a U.S. citizen or meets the residency requirements to receive federal financial aid
are from a low-income and/or first-generation (you are the first person in your family to attend college) family or have a physical or learning disability (for more resources visit SU’s Disability Resource Center
have a need for academic support

Services

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the project acts as an advocate for qualified students, plans and coordinates their services, and provides support programs that help them develop academic, interpersonal and social skills they need for success at SU. Here's a list of services TRIO offers:

Academic Coaching
TRIO students are required to meet with a staff member once a month to evaluate their academic progress. Academic coaching is an exploration and discovery process that allows you to see yourself from a new perspective. The goal is to help you perform to the best of your abilities. Coaching sessions may include:
- Assistance in organizing and planning your semester
- Someone to keep you accountable to your academic plans
- Help with specific academic issues (test-taking, time management, note-taking)
- Referral to other appropriate campus resources
Appointments can last from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on what your need is. The purpose of these meetings is to:
- Discover how you learn
- Provide structure and organizational skills
- Support your goals
- Give feedback on your progress and growth
Managing Your Money

Personal financial literacy is your ability to understand and analyze your finances and your financial opportunities so you can make informed choices regarding your money. As a TRIO student you are required to complete the CashCourse program during your first academic coaching appointment.

In additions, we’ve also created a quick Guide to Finance to get you started.
Learning and Study Strategies Inventory

Many students are not as aware as they need to be about how they study and learn. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) is designed to help you develop or expand that awareness so you can be more successful in college. (Your academic coach will provide you with username and password needed to complete the LASSI online.)

TRIO participants take the LASSI to help assess their strengths and weaknesses in 10 different areas related to being a strategic and successful learner in college. The greatest benefit from completing the LASSI is that it helps you identify areas of your knowledge, skills, motivation and attitudes you may need to improve.

After completing the inventory, a staff member will review the results with you and help you to set goals and make a plan for academic success.
Mentoring
The primary role of the TRIO s Peer Mentor Program is to support SU’s TRIO students by providing mentors who can help you connect to SU’s campus community and its resources. TRIO mentors:
- Act as a positive role model, guiding the mentee(s) through interaction, by demonstrating responsibility and respect for others’ rights, feelings, lifestyles and diverse backgrounds.
- Attend all required training and workshops to enhance mentoring skills.
- Submit weekly mentoring log to document contact hours.
- Conduct monthly updates with mentee and exchange information pertinent to the mentee’s professional and academic goals.
- Use technology on a weekly basis to communicate with mentees through portals such as Twitter, Facebook or email.
- Refer mentees to appropriate SU and community-related resources, as needed.
- Maintain a professional demeanor and optimistic attitude, which includes, but is not limited to, being on time, dressing appropriately, meeting deadlines, managing personal and professional time, using appropriate language and humor.
Want to become a TRIO mentor? To be considered, you must:
- be a sophomore, junior or senior with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- interview with project director
- provide two or more references from faculty, former supervisors or counselors
- have one year of mentoring experience
Center for Student Achievement

The Center for Student Achievement offers several academic success programs for all SU students. They provide academic coaching and workshops, tutoring and even Supplemental Instruction where students who have succeeded in difficult classes meet with you to help you figure it out.

TRIO Program Awards

2024