Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

What is TRIO SSS?

 

We hope you enjoy this video featuring some of our PCC TRIO SSS graduates. You can also read what TRIO alums wrote about their experience!

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs are federally funded programs that are dedicated to providing academic support to first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities.
At PCC, TRIO SSS services include:

Advisors with small caseloads for highly personalized support

  • You have an advisor who gets to provide high-quality advising because they only work with around 70 students each year instead of hundreds!
  • They will be your go-to person the whole time you are working on your degree at PCC. They’ll help you with:
    • Academic advising (degree and university transfer planning)
    • Making connections
    • Keeping track of your funding for school, like financial aid and applying for scholarships

Tuition-FREE courses in study skills, financial literacy, and writing for scholarships

You will take three tuition-free College Success and Career Guidance (CG) courses
(7 credits total).

  • All of these are required for TRIO students unless you have already taken them! In-person classes are at Cascade Campus in North Portland, and we rotate how the class is offered each term.
    • CG 111B: Study Skills (2cr)
      • This class is typically offered Fall (in-person), Winter (remote), and Spring (online – tentative).
    • CG 105 + WR 105: Scholarship Applications & Essays (4cr)
      • Typically offered during Fall (in-person or online) and Spring (remote).
    • CG 114: Financial Survival (1cr)
      • Typically offered during Winter (in-person or online) and sometimes Spring (remote – tentative).

Extra access to math and writing tutoring at Cascade Campus

TRIO students can use a “FastPass” during some of the Cascade Campus Student Learning Center and Reading Writing Center’s drop-in tutoring hours.

TRIO Google Group!

You will be added to an email list so that information can be shared with you about events and opportunities offered by PCC Resource Centers, Student Life, PCC Opportunity Centers, organizations like the Oregon TRIO Association, etc.

TRIO Peer Mentor Program, Events and Activities

  • Peer Mentor program
    • Mentors host events such as weekly study hall sessions
    • One on one support from mentors for things like using resources and improving study habits, understanding assignments in CG courses
  • University campus tours
  • Opportunities through the Oregon TRIO Association
  • End-of-year/graduation celebrations
  • TRIO Alumni Association
How does a student qualify to join the TRIO Student Support Services Program?

Students who can join TRIO SSS at PCC:

Are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents (all ages who have a GED® or high school diploma), or Non-citizens who are also age 24 and under

TRIO programs in Oregon were recently approved during the 2023-23 school year to begin serving students who are not U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents, as long as they are age 24 and under!

Meet at least one federal guideline

You are:

  • A lower-income student
  • A first-generation college student (the parent or guardian who raised you does not have a bachelor’s degree or higher).
  • A student with a documented disability.
Are working on their first college degree

In most cases, you have already earned a high school diploma, GED®, or equivalent.

Meet our academic need guidelines

You are still working on completing at least one of any of the following courses, or placed into at least one of them within one year before applying for TRIO SSS:

  • Reading 90 or 115
  • Writing 90 or 115
  • Math 20, 58, 60, 65, 70, 95, 98, 105 or 111
  • ESOL Level 7 or Level 8 courses
    • Contact us before applying if you are taking ESOL courses below Level 7/8
Are in Financial Aid Good Standing with a GPA of at least 2.0

Students are welcome to apply when they are expecting to be in Financial Aid Good Standing with a GPA of at least 2.0 by the beginning of the next term.

If you aren’t sure of your status, please connect with someone in Advising and/or Financial Aid.

Plan to enroll in at least six credits per term, or at least 18 per year

TRIO SSS admits students who are seeking to earn a degree (or 1+ year certificate) from PCC within about three years of entering the program.

Students can be in the program for four cohort years, and each cohort year ends on August 31st.

Are not currently a member of another program such as Future Connect

TRIO SSS is part of a family of College Success Programs at PCC! Students who are part of CALI, CAMP, or Future Connect are not able to be in those programs at the same time as TRIO, but it may be possible for you to participate in one of those programs and then move to TRIO later. You are welcome to get in touch with us or your current coach/advisor if you have questions about this!

I want to apply!

  • APPLY ONLINE! – Please read the introduction page completely before you begin the application, so that you have all of your information ready!
  • Deadline to apply for Spring 2024:
    • Final – Monday, March 11, 2024

If you have questions, please reach out to our Program Assistant: Contact Liz Bernunzio.

We look forward to meeting you!