TRIO-Student Support Services Program

Our Mission and Objectives

TRIO-Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) is a federally funded program that provides opportunities for academic development, exposes scholars to retention-based resources, and serves to motivate and support scholars toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. TRIO-SSS at Southern Miss aims to foster the holistic development of TRIO-SSS Scholars as they work to pursue a Bachelor's degree, while honoring the overall mission of TRIO-SSS programs across the country: to retain and graduate the scholars we serve. Our mission, goals, and objectives for TRIO Student Support Services at The University of Southern Mississippi are indicated below. 

Mission 

TRIO-Student Support Services at Southern Miss is committed to the success of students who are first-generation, income-eligible, and/or students with disabilities. Our mission is to empower scholars to: 

• Enhance the positive skills, knowledge, and attributes needed to complete a Bachelor's degree. 
• Achieve maximum academic success and career readiness.
• Graduate as well-rounded, skilled, and self-actualized professionals and citizens.

Objectives

TRIO-SSS at Southern Miss will provide exclusive services to 200 scholars each year, supporting their efforts toward collegiate success, persistence, and graduation by:

• At least 78% of all scholars serviced will persist from one academic year to the beginning of the next academic year. 
• At least 75% of all enrolled scholars served by SSS will meet the performance level required to stay in good standing. 
• 48% of new scholars served each year will graduate within six years. 

This grant has been 100% federally funded by the United States Department of Education to serve 200 scholars annually in the amount of $306,037 per year for a period of five years. 

What our TRIO-SSS Scholars are saying about the program...

The Student Support Services Program has given me the opportunity to think better, be able to work harder, and most of all, it's very efficient for students if they are in need of help. 

With the help of tutoring, I was able to identify mistakes in my writing and learned ways to improve my writing skills. I know that I have a place to come for support and guidance in my writing and my courses, in general. It's helped my confidence as a student.