TRIO

I spoke with Juanita Wyatt, Director of TRIO Student Support Services at PSC so that I can share a little bit about what they do.

TRIO is a set of federal programs designed to help students succeed in school. This is a holistic program that will connect and provide you with tutoring, financial aid, advising, career services, college tours, and more. While all PSC students have access to these services for free (except college tours and enrichment activities), only TRIO students are connected with tutors, advisors, and the like automatically. Other students have to opt into these services and seek them out one by one. In short, TRIO students have a helping hand and a cheerleader. Who doesn’t need that?

To qualify for TRIO you should be at least one of the following:

First-Generation Student
You are a first-generation student if neither of your parents has a 4-year degree. If your parents have an Associate Degree or some college, you are still considered a first-generation student. You are still a first-generation student if your siblings have college degrees, but your parents do not.

Limited Family Income
This one speaks for itself, but if you or your family has a limited income, based on the Department of Ed guidelines, you qualify to be in TRIO. See if you qualify through this link:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/incomelevels.html

Documented Disability
If you have a disability documented by a medical professional, then you qualify for TRIO. You should also visit the Access and Disability Services office. Your high school IEP (Individualized Education Program) won’t translate to PSC, but if you had an IEP in high school, you would qualify for TRIO due to this documented disability.

As I mentioned, TRIO is a set of federal programs. PSC’s TRIO office participates in three programs that serve different ages:

Student Support Services
These are programs to help current PSC students succeed. They help with tutoring, advising, financial aid (and financial literacy), career services, transfer counseling, enrichment, college tours, and more. All of it is free. If you are reading this as a current PSC student (not a high schooler enrolled in dual enrollment), this would be your program. 

Upward Bound
Upward Bound is a program specifically to help high school students get into college.

Educational Talent Search
Educational Talent Search is a program open to middle and high school students. It identifies students who might need additional help in applying for and getting into college.

If you meet at least one of the qualifications to enter TRIO, think you might, or are just curious, you can visit their webpage, and fill out this application form. (Full disclosure, I looked at the form and provided you already know your household income, it will take you well under 10 minutes to complete.) Juanita said one of her proudest moments was seeing enrolled TRIO students bring their friends into the program.

The TRIO office is located in room #1180, directly across from Enrollment Services, and just past the northwest corner of the Atrium. Please stop by to say hi, and learn more.