TRiO Student Support Services

TRiO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) is a federally funded program designed to provide a variety of services, tools, and resources to assist students along their own unique educational path. To apply for the SSS program, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. First-Generation --Neither parent or legal guardian received a four-year college degree from a U.S. accredited university prior to the student's 18th birthday, and/or
  2. Students with low-income -- Student is receiving federal financial aid such as a Pell Grant, or the student's household taxable income meets federal financial guidelines, and/or
  3. Disability -- The student has a disability which has been documented through SUU's Disability Resource Center.

Applicants must be citizens of the United States and enrolled at SUU. After submitting an intake form, the Student Support Services team will determine eligibility. Upon acceptance, an appointment with an SSS team member may be scheduled. The SSS/student relationship is active through completion of a Bachelor's Degree or up to 6 years from date of enrollment.

For more about the benefits of being a Student Support Services participant, please view the Services tab.TRiO Student Support Services Logo

SSS provides tutoring in the areas of math, English, general science, and most general education courses from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. We have tutors on staff to assist with small group and one-on-one tutoring. Each student is assigned a mentor. Services are at no cost to the student and are arranged through SSS.

SSS offers supplemental advising in the areas of academics, career, and finance.


SSS Vision

The Student Support Services program and its personnel will provide opportunities for participants to practice self-direction, resourcefulness and resiliency through one-on-one advising focused on academic skills development and personal enrichment. Through our involvement we hope that participants will become successful students, college graduates, respected professionals, and ultimately global citizens who will practice lifelong learning, essentially being students of life. 

Our Mission

Student Support Services seeks to support promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds in meeting the challenges of higher education by strengthening and developing their academic and self-management skills. The SSS program's focus is to ensure that participants persist in school, graduate from Southern Utah University with an associate degree, and move on to a baccalaureate program. To accomplish these objectives SSS provides services to enhance students' academic success, personal skills, and social skills. Providing services in these areas corresponds to the University's mission to foster lifelong learning. 

To fulfill the program's focus, as we've outlined in our mission statement, the Southern Utah University Student Support Services program focuses on these following goals:

  • Recruit eligible students who meet federal low income, disability, and/or first generation guidelines:
  • Increase retention & graduation of SUU students from disadvantaged backgrounds.