Office of Academic Success and Engagement

TRIO is Educational Opportunity for Low-Income and Disabled Americans. Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. These initial three programs were funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The mission of TRIO Student Support Services is to provide individualized academic resources and advising to eligible students by developing academic plans and goals, enhancing the student’s college experience and creating an institutional climate of support.

For 15 years, TRIO Student Support Services has been an academic program at UT that serves a specific population of undergraduate students: those who have limited income, are the first in their families to graduate college, or have a disability.

• TRIO SSS is an academic program with its own administrative structure, stakeholders, mission statement, program theory, data collection process and evaluation plan.
• All TRIO SSS activities relate to specific and measurable performance objectives and the project is required to submit an annual performance report to demonstrate accountability
• TRIO SSS’s efficiency is based on the cost per successful outcomes
  • Extensive intake process to identify students committed to completing their baccalaureate degree at UT in six years or less with TRIO SSS as an active partner in the process.
  • To sustain the program, the program is dependent on the support of UT.

TRIO SSS eligible students comprise about two-thirds of the total undergraduate population and up to 80% of new students each Fall semester. All students admitted to the program have some level of academic need that is based on transcript data, study skills mastery, college and career goals, understanding of financial aid, test scores, college readiness, ESL, and/or other issues that can impact their ability to succeed. However, not all academic needs require tutoring. 

Overall, less than one third of TRIO SSS students receive private tutoring from TRIO Tutor Mentors.

Other services include:

• Cultural and professional experiences in preparation for life after college
• Employment opportunities
• Assistance with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Short-term loan of Math and Science books
• Inclusive and supportive environment designed to enhance student success
• Content tutoring for challenging classes
• Mentoring for underclass students
• Referrals to campus resources
  Instruction on strategies to master courses
• Student advising for academic and other concerns that are critical to increasing graduate/retention rates
• Easily accessible advising staff with high levels of direct contact hours
• Realistic and holistic help for navigating and adjusting to collegiate life
• Encourage exploration of graduate school options and future career choices
• Workshop opportunities to learn about a variety of topics, including scholarship access, graduate school options and financial literacy
• Dedicated space for studying or break between classes. 

The goal of Student Support Services at The University of Toledo is to increase the college retention and graduation rates among the participants and facilitate the process of training from one level of higher education to the next. Students served by the TRIO SSS receive academic advising and monitoring, peer and professional mentoring, private tutoring when needed, and have access to a technology lab. SSS offers experiences in leadership and personal development for students to prepare them for their futures as a college graduate.

Research shows that TRIO students are 47% more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution and 18% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to their low-income peers (U.S. Department of Education, 2022).

Based on recorded contacts during an academic year for every 100 served students:

• 99 received academic advising
• 35 received TRIO SSS tutoring
• 51 received tutoring from one or more program in the Academic Support Services department
• 43 received career counseling
• 23 participated in a study skills workshop or received private instruction
• 31 received information or instruction to improve financial literacy
• 23 received information about applying to graduate school
• 44 received information or assistance with financial aid or the application

Students can review the application criteria.  

We know that approximately 67% of undergraduate students at UToledo qualify for the SSS project. You can refer a student to our office and allow us to point the student in the right direction.

Students registered with the TRIO SSS program are identified in Banner by cohort. Go to the SGASADD screen and you will see the SSS cohort code. Students must apply to TRIO SSS which involves an application, interview and several assessments prior to being added to the cohort.

We are looking for degree seeking students, enrolled full-time. Students who are committed to attending college but have overall adjustment issues to college life despite the ability to do the work are excellent candidates. The best candidate is the one whose grade is between a C and a D, yet has the potential to achieve a passing grade for the course with some advising or other intervention.

Your progress reports help the students recognize where they currently stand in class and what they need to do in order to improve upon their grades. All TRIO SSS students have authorized our inquiry of and access to academic information by their signature on the TRIO SSS application and intake forms.

Your participation in completing this form is greatly appreciated. We send the progress reports during the first quarter of the semester. If your course is not set up or is too large to provide this information, please disregard the request and accept our apologies. TRIO SSS is based on relationships. It is our goal to foster a relationship between the student and you, as well. The progress reports are an opportunity for you to make comments to further support student success. Your feedback allows us to target our services, provide advising to develop or revise semester goals, and offer referrals to relevant resources such as tutoring, study skills, scholarships, etc.

FERPA

TRIO SSS has a legitimate educational interest in all student participants who have been accepted into the program. This interest has been firmly established by the student’s application and participation in the TRIO SSS program. Additionally, TRIO SSS staff are identified as UToledo employees with a legitimate educational interest to review educational records in order to fulfill professional responsibilities and compliance with federal law. Finally, the information is shared with the student in order to support their educational goals.

Legitimate Educational Interest is defined on the University of Toledo's Office of the Registrar's FERPA and Confidentiality webpage.  

Typically the goal of a progress report is to help students improve their academic situation. Although this is important, TRIO SSS uses progress reports as a way to foster active academic engagement. Our goal is to provide a connection with the instructor, a self-monitoring tool, and a way to identify specific academic resources.

The majority of TRIO SSS students are first-generation college students (FGCS). While background and college experiences may vary, FGCS tend to perceive family, campus environments, and faculty as less supportive of them. TRIO SSS developed the progress report as a tool for faculty and TRIO SSS Staff to share support and feedback.

We make every effort to not solicit progress reports from advanced courses, senior project/design/capstone course, large lecture halls, internships or co-op courses. We may not request a progress report for a graduating student who we know is actively engaged with his/her instructors and coursework. If you feel the student for which you have received a progress report request is actively engaged or you would prefer to mentor the student privately, we will respect your decision.

Please reach out ot a member of the TRIO team for questions or visit the office at Carlson Library, 0300.