Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Student Handbook

TRIO


TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES (TRIO SSS)

TRIO Student Support Services, TRIO SSS, is a federally funded program that is designed to help students stay in school, graduate with college degrees and continue their education by transferring to four-year colleges and universities. This program falls under the SCC’s Student Affairs Division.

To help students succeed academically, TRIO SSS activities focus on students’ individual learning needs. TRIO SSS not only helps students succeed at the associate degree level, but also offers a variety of transfer-related services to encourage students to further their education by transferring to four-year colleges and universities.

The goals of TRIO SSS are to help students stay in school, graduate with college degrees, and continue their education by transferring to four-year colleges and universities. TRIO SSS offers many academic-related services such as tutoring, assistance with study skills, college transfer planning, advising, campus visits to four-year colleges and universities, personal counseling, peer mentoring, assistance with career development needs, financial/ economic literacy information, cultural enrichment activities and leadership development.

TRIO SSS has limited enrollment and students must meet certain eligibility criteria to become participants.

To be eligible for TRIO SSS students must:

  • Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours in an associate degree program at SCC
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible for federal student financial aid
  • Be working on his or her first college degree AND
  • Meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:
  • Be a first generation college student (neither parent has a four-year college degree or the custodial parent in a single-parent family does not have a four-year college degree) OR
  • Currently reside in an economically disadvantaged household (TRIO SSS will help you determine if you meet this criteria) OR
  • Have a documented disability verified by a licensed or certified professional (physician, LPC, LCSW, etc.).
  • Additional eligibility criteria may also apply. TRIO SSS staff is available to answer any questions an individual may have regarding his or her eligibility for the program.

Students must complete an application to be considered for participation in the TRIO Student Support Services Program. Applications may be obtained from the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) office (P. Dan Hull Building - E-44 of the Hull Building on the Giles Campus) or download from https://www.sccsc.edu/services/TRIO/index.php. Also completed applications can be mailed to Spartanburg Community College TRIO Student Support Services, P.O. Box 4386, Spartanburg, SC 29305. Once an application is submitted, TRIO Student Support Services staff will contact you to discuss your eligibility and the remaining steps in the application process.

For more information, contact the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program by phone at (864) 592-4780, by email at trio-sss@sccsc.edu or visit the TRIO web page at https://www.sccsc.edu/services/TRIO/index.php.

TRIO TALENT SEARCH

The TRIO Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education.  The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their post secondary education.  The program publicizes the availability of financial aid and assists participants with the post secondary application process.  Talent Search also encourages persons who have not completed educational programs at the secondary or post secondary level to enter or reenter and complete post secondary education.  The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youths from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school to enroll in and complete their post secondary education.

Spartanburg Community College operates the Talent Search program at its Cherokee Campus.  The target area is Cherokee County, SC and the target schools are Gaffney High School, Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg Middle School, Ewing Middle School, Gaffney Middle School, and the Adult Education and Alternative Schools within the Ola Copeland Learning Center.  The goal of the program is to increase post secondary school persistence and graduation (regular and rigorous) rates as well post secondary enrollment and completion rates.

The Talent Search program will provide services such as high quality tutoring services, advice and assistance in course selection, assistance in college entrance examinations and applications, information on financial aid, guidance and assistance in secondary school reentry, financial literacy counseling, technology training for parents and mentors, personal advising, career counseling, college visits, opportunities to attend SC TRIO Leadership Conferences, virtual “role model” presentations, cultural events, connections to mentors, summer camps, and etiquette dinners.

For more information, contact Sigourney Davidson, Talent Search Coordinator, Cherokee County Campus, CAMIT building, room 203, by phone at (864) 206-2645 or by email at davidsons@sccsc.edu.