Appalachian receives continued support for Federal TRIO SSS program

Silver’s project collaborators

Carole Greene, assistant director, Student Support Services.
Mady Fitzgerald, SSS English instructor and advisor, Student Learning Center.
Sheri Clawson, administrative support specialist, Student Learning Center.

Edited by Jessica Stump

Posted Dec. 18, 2018 at 2:27 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Education has funded the fourth year of Appalachian State University’s Federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program, giving Appalachian the opportunity to continue its support of first-generation and/or low-income students — from enrollment through degree completion.

The Federal TRIO SSS program at Appalachian has provided integrated, holistic services to first-generation and/or low-income students since 1972. The program’s primary mission is to retain and graduate Appalachian students, a goal supported by the university’s mission statement.

Cathia Silver ’83 ’86, director of student support services in Appalachian’s Student Learning Center, is the grant recipient. The current five-year grant cycle runs through 2020, with a total expected budget of approximately $1.4 million. The 2018–19 grant Silver received totals $313,229.

The SSS program identifies eligible students, selects those with greatest need and serves approximately 200 students per year (around 50 new students each year) from orientation through graduation, Silver said.

Based on assessments, the SSS advisors create an individualized plan for each student to meet their academic, career, personal and financial needs.

Participants receive structured services, including the following:

Midterm academic progress reports.
Advocacy.
Extended orientation.
Academic coaching.
Intrusive advising through graduation.
Mentoring program and academic workshops for first-year students.
Priority tutoring.
Transfer student support.
Career exploration and development.
Priority registration.
Cultural events programming.
Financial aid assistance.

In addition, all first-year students enroll in the SSS section of the First Year Seminar course, the First Year Writing course, as well as the SSS College Success Seminar elective course.

The program’s Annual Performance Report, submitted in March for the 2016–17 academic year, revealed a six-year graduation rate of 60 percent, a persistence rate of 89 percent and a good academic standing rate of 97 percent, Silver said.

Additionally, Silver said the program has long been a model of diversity on campus, with 42 percent of the current students from diverse backgrounds and 79 percent from first-generation/low-income backgrounds (based on recent federal poverty guidelines).

Silver’s project collaborators

Carole Greene, assistant director, Student Support Services.
Mady Fitzgerald, SSS English instructor and advisor, Student Learning Center.
Sheri Clawson, administrative support specialist, Student Learning Center.

About the Disco Student Learning Center

Established in 1972, the Disco Student Learning Center (SLC) at Appalachian State University — part of App State’s University College — provides holistic support services for undergraduate and graduate students that are designed to enrich their academic, personal and professional lives. These services, which help students foster self-advocacy and develop academic independence, include tutoring, mentoring, coaching, academic strategy instruction and executive skill development. Learn more at https://studentlearningcenter.appstate.edu.

About University College

Formed in 2007, University College consists of the university’s general education program, faculty and student support, and co-curricular programming and support – all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside the classroom. All students at Appalachian begin their education in University College and benefit from its programs until they graduate. Learn more at https://universitycollege.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.