TRiO Student Support Services

ABOUT

TRiO – Student Support Services is a federally funded program created in 1968 to help students stay in college and graduate. Students can turn to TRiO-SSS for services including tutoring, counseling and peer mentoring as they reach their educational and career goals.

Since its inception at Paul Smith’s, TRiO – Student Support Services has contributed to a significant increase in student persistence and graduation rates at the college.

The TRiO-SSS at Paul Smith’s College is completely funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Our most recent five-year grant, for $1.2 million, serves 165 students a year.

LEARN MORE & APPLY

Services

Academic, financial, personal, and career counseling
Financial Literacy, money management, scholarships, and student loan repayment assistance
Individualized Educational Success Plan and monitoring of academic progress
Study skills, time management, computer literacy, and other strategies for academic success
Personality and character strengths assessments
Professional assistance with writing, research, and math
Peer mentoring program
Cultural enrichment trips and events
Leadership and service learning opportunities
Transfer advising, including graduate school preparation
Study abroad opportunities, information, support, and scholarships

All TRiO services are provided at no cost to participants.

Application & Eligibility

Who is eligible?
A student who meets all of the following criteria:

Is a citizen or national of the United States or meets the residency requirements for federal student financial assistance
Is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at Paul Smith’s College
Is a first-generation* college student, or an individual with a disability**, or qualifies for financial reasons***

How do I apply?
In addition to the admission requirements for Paul Smith’s College, applicants for TRiO – Student Support Services must complete and submit:

PSC TRiO – SSS Application. Click here
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

*Student’s parents have associate’s (2-year) degrees or less.

**If a disability exists, the student must provide documentation which meets Paul Smith’s College guidelines for documenting a disability.

***If a student receives a Pell Grant, it is highly likely student is eligible.

Apply Online to Join

TRiO Grant Aid Application Link and Information

We award grant aid towards the end of each semester as funds are available. Review the Check List below and complete the Grant Aid Application. If you are selected to receive grant aid, you will receive an email at the end of the semester.
Grant aid will be applied to the following semester (i.e., if grant aid is awarded in Fall 2022, it will be applied Spring 2023).
GRANT AID APPLICATION LINK – If you submit before February

TRiO Events & Cultural Enrichment Trips

Fall 2022 events:

9/10 Thrift Store Tour
9/29 Hispanic Heritage Month Movie & Dinner sponsored by DEI, Res Life and Student Engagement
10/1 Adirondack Wildlife Refuge
10/1 Steel Band Workshops sponsored by Student Engagement
10/15 Great Escape Fright Night
10/26 Virtual Career Fair
10/27 Fall Social
10/28 Financial Literacy- Finding Scholarships 1-1:30
11/1 to 11/10 Student Success Sessions! presented by Peer Mentors CACS
11/4 Financial Literacy: Adulting 101:Building a Budget ADK room 12:30 Info QR Code above.
11/5 Thrift Store Tour- 9:30-?
11/8 Financial Literacy- Student Loans: Know What Your Owe. TRiO office, bring your laptop
11/7-11/11 Grad School Tabling Student Center Lobby 11am-1pm: 11/7 SUNY Potsdam, 11/9 Clarkson, 11/11 Paul Smith’s & SUNY Albany.
11/10 Grad School panel, St. Regis Lounge 5:30pm
12/6 Holiday Gathering: Jingle & Mingle – TRiO office… drop in for food, festive fun, holiday crafts or to just relax.