TRIO Student Support Services

To provide supportive services to disadvantaged college students to enhance their potential for successfully completing the postsecondary education programs in which they are enrolled and increase their transfer rates from 2-year to 4-year institutio

The purpose of the SSS Program is to increase the number of disadvantaged students, including low-income college students, first-generation college students, and college students with disabilities, who successfully complete a program of study at the postsecondary level. The support services that are provided should increase the retention and graduation rates for these categories of students and facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year colleges and universities. The support services should also foster an institutional climate that supports the success of students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are historically underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths, students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, and other disconnected students. Student support services should also improve the financial and economic literacy of students

Institutions of higher education and combinations of institutions of higher education may apply.

Low-income, first generation college students or disabled students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution that is the recipient of the grant and who are in need of academic support in order to successfully pursue a program of postsecondary education. At least two-thirds of the project participants must be disabled or must be low-income individuals who are first generation college students. The remaining participants must be disabled, low-income individuals, or first generation college students. One-third of the disabled participants must be low-income. Required low-income criteria for participants are stated in application materials.

All projects must provide academic tutoring, advice on postsecondary course selection, financial aid counseling, services to improve financial and economic literacy, assistance in applying for graduate and professional programs, and activities to help students in 2-year institutions enroll in 4-year programs. Projects may also provide personal and career counseling; exposure to cultural events; mentoring; services to secure temporary housing during academic breaks for students who are homeless; activities for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, homeless students, and students in foster care; and grant aid (not to exceed 20 percent of a project's funds).

Five year projects, with annual continuation awards. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress by the grantee.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Continuation awards are made on the basis of 34 CFR 75.253. For new awards, applicants will be selected under this part on the basis of the criteria set forth in 34 CFR 646.21 and 646.22. Contact the program office for additional information.

Selected nonfederal field readers evaluate new proposals on the basis of the selection criteria specified in 34 CFR 646.21 and 646.22. Grants are awarded through the Federal TRIO Programs office.

Approximately 90 to 180 days.

The grant period is 5 years. Continuation awards are approved on an annual basis; subject to the availability of funds and evidence that the grantee is meeting the conditions of the grant and making substantial progress towards meeting the project objectives.

Yes. The program statute authorizes a second review of unsuccessful applications. The Department implements the second review process in accordance with the process specified in 34 CFR 646.24. An unsuccessful applicant requesting a second review must provide evidence that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made a technical, administrative, or scoring error in the processing or review of its application.