App State’s TRIO Student Support Services awarded continued federal funding for 2021–22

View larger image — The Student Support Services (SSS) program at Appalachian State University has received continued federal funding for its 2021–22 operations. SSS provides comprehensive services that help retain and graduate first-generation and/or low-income App State students. Students on Sanford Mall are pictured in this aerial view of App States campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Grant project collaborators

Silver collaborated with the following App State team on the SSS grant proposal for the current five-year grant cycle:

Ronaka Adams, university program associate in the Student Learning Center.
Sheri Clawson, an administrative support specialist in App State’s Department of Biology and a former administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.
Carole Greene, assistant director of the SSS program.
Mady Fitzgerald, a First Year Seminar and rhetoric and composition instructor in the SSS program and an adviser for students in the SSS program.
Heather Langdon, executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning.
Heather Lippard, director of academic strategy instruction in the Student Learning Center.
Whitney Ward ’14, administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.

“TRIO” in Federal TRIO Programs refers to the first three educational opportunity programs formed by the U.S. government in the 1960s to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. These programs are Student Support Services, Talent Search and Upward Bound.

Over the years, five additional TRIO Programs were implemented to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. They are:

Learn more

Edited by Jessica Stump

Posted Nov. 2, 2021 at 9:46 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — For nearly 50 years, the Student Support Services (SSS) program at Appalachian State University has provided comprehensive services that support first-generation and/or low-income students throughout their academic careers. The program, which helps retain and graduate these students, is supported this year by continued grant funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

SSS Director Cathia Silver has received $338,780 in additional funding from ED for the 2021–22 academic year — the second year of the program’s current grant cycle (2020–21 to 2024–25). The total expected funding for the five-year cycle is approximately $1.7 million.

According to Silver, the program’s funds are used also to provide students with academic and holistic support, specialized instruction and proactive advising, as well as a fully structured first-year experience that includes:

A mentoring program.
SSS First Year Seminar/First Year Writing courses and an SSS College Success course.
Scholarship assistance.
Educational/cultural programming.
Career development and financial literacy support.

This funding also includes $45,000 in scholarship aid for first- and second-year participants who receive the federal Pell Grant, with the average scholarship per student being around $650.

After identifying eligible students, the SSS program determines and works with students with the greatest need — approximately 200 students per year — who are supported from orientation through graduation. Of the students enrolled in the program this fall, 62% are from diverse backgrounds.

The program’s latest Annual Federal Performance Report, submitted to ED in December 2020, showed SSS participants had improved graduation and retention rates. Additionally, 97% of SSS students entered the fall 2021 semester in good academic standing.

SSS is one of eight federally funded TRIO outreach and student services programs available at more than 3,000 program sites. The programs are designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. At App State, the SSS program is housed in University College.

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Grant project collaborators

Silver collaborated with the following App State team on the SSS grant proposal for the current five-year grant cycle:

Ronaka Adams, university program associate in the Student Learning Center.
Sheri Clawson, an administrative support specialist in App State’s Department of Biology and a former administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.
Carole Greene, assistant director of the SSS program.
Mady Fitzgerald, a First Year Seminar and rhetoric and composition instructor in the SSS program and an adviser for students in the SSS program.
Heather Langdon, executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning.
Heather Lippard, director of academic strategy instruction in the Student Learning Center.
Whitney Ward ’14, administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.

About the Federal TRIO Programs

“TRIO” in Federal TRIO Programs refers to the first three educational opportunity programs formed by the U.S. government in the 1960s to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. These programs are Student Support Services, Talent Search and Upward Bound.

Over the years, five additional TRIO Programs were implemented to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. They are:

Learn more

An SSS student gives back

Freddy Luviano ’21, of Statesville, is a 2021 graduate of the university’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program and now serves as a mentor for SSS students. “Being able to give back to the program that gave me so much is so amazing — it is a feeling like no other,” he said.

“The SSS program made my entire undergraduate career,” Luviano shared. “I would not be in the position that I am in without the help of the program. Everyone from my advisers to my mentor and also my fellow peers in the program were all very supportive.”

Luviano is pursuing his Master of Social Work at App State with a concentration in individuals and families and a minor in psychology. He is also a 2021–22 Beaver Scholar.

US Department of Education continues funding for App State’s Student Support Services

Feb. 25, 2021

Cathia Silver, director of App State’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, has received continued funding from the U.S. Department of Education in support of the SSS program’s provision of holistic services to first-generation and/or low-income students.

Read the story

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), located on campus on the second floor of D. D. Dougherty, provides comprehensive services to 200 students who are first-generation and/or low-income. We provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with college requirements, and motivate students to successfully complete their degree.

Learn more

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 a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

Grant project collaborators

Silver collaborated with the following App State team on the SSS grant proposal for the current five-year grant cycle:

Ronaka Adams, university program associate in the Student Learning Center.
Sheri Clawson, an administrative support specialist in App State’s Department of Biology and a former administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.
Carole Greene, assistant director of the SSS program.
Mady Fitzgerald, a First Year Seminar and rhetoric and composition instructor in the SSS program and an adviser for students in the SSS program.
Heather Langdon, executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning.
Heather Lippard, director of academic strategy instruction in the Student Learning Center.
Whitney Ward ’14, administrative support specialist in the Student Learning Center.

About the Federal TRIO Programs

“TRIO” in Federal TRIO Programs refers to the first three educational opportunity programs formed by the U.S. government in the 1960s to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. These programs are Student Support Services, Talent Search and Upward Bound.

Over the years, five additional TRIO Programs were implemented to provide a wider range of services and to reach more students who need assistance. They are:

Learn more

An SSS student gives back

Freddy Luviano ’21, of Statesville, is a 2021 graduate of the university’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program and now serves as a mentor for SSS students. “Being able to give back to the program that gave me so much is so amazing — it is a feeling like no other,” he said.

“The SSS program made my entire undergraduate career,” Luviano shared. “I would not be in the position that I am in without the help of the program. Everyone from my advisers to my mentor and also my fellow peers in the program were all very supportive.”

Luviano is pursuing his Master of Social Work at App State with a concentration in individuals and families and a minor in psychology. He is also a 2021–22 Beaver Scholar.

US Department of Education continues funding for App State’s Student Support Services

Feb. 25, 2021

Cathia Silver, director of App State’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, has received continued funding from the U.S. Department of Education in support of the SSS program’s provision of holistic services to first-generation and/or low-income students.

Read the story

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), located on campus on the second floor of D. D. Dougherty, provides comprehensive services to 200 students who are first-generation and/or low-income. We provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with college requirements, and motivate students to successfully complete their degree.

Learn more