TRIO Student Support Services

The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS/SSS STEM) office helps students navigate their college experience from day one through graduation. Each student is assigned a personal academic advisor to help them select the right curriculum needed to complete the requirements for their intended degree.

Advisors specialize in curriculum from the four UW Oshkosh colleges;

• Business
• Education and Human Services
• Letters and Sciences
• Nursing

Advisors also work with students who are still exploring their major field of study.  For example, advisors specifically work with students who have an interest in science, technology, engineering, math and health-related majors but may still be undecided.

Students meet with their advisor on a regular basis, especially during their first and second year of college. The advisor assists with the selection of courses for each semester, teaches students how to read their Academic Report, connects students to campus resources, discusses career goals, develops a success and graduation plan, and informs students about campus organizations and opportunities.

In addition, any concerns or questions students have about their education and future can be discussed with their advisor. No matter the problem or question, the SSS/SSS STEM advisor is there to guide and aid students in every way possible.

SSS/SSS STEM students strengthen skills such as time management, goal setting, organization, stress management, studying, and critical thinking through their time with SSS/SSS STEM advisors and their weekly First Year Learning Groups. 

UW Oshkosh provides a number of resources free of charge to all students, including TRIO students.  Students can access these resources directly or have their SSS/SSS STEM advisor assist them. A few of the resources used by students are highlighted below.

Campus Resources for First-Generation College Students – A brochure listing campus resources to support first-generation college students.

Career and Professional Development – Everything from resume help to free professional attire. 

Center for Academic Resources – Free tutoring and supplemental instruction for courses. 

Counseling Services – Don’t let stress be an obstacle. Process life with our professional counselors. 

Math Lab – Free math tutoring. Time + hard work = success.

Project Success – A remedial program for students with language-based learning disabilities. 

Reading and Study Skills Center – Boost your test taking and note taking skills.

Writing Center – Bring your assignments, rough drafts and get free assistance with your writing.

Learning Groups are small groups of first-year students who meet weekly with two upperclass SSS/SSS STEM students to assist with the transition to college and learn the skills necessary to become a successful college student. Learning Groups are exclusively for students in the SSS/SSS STEM program. The mission of these groups is to build an engaged community of first-generation learners who learn from their peers about themselves, college life and how to be a successful student.

All first-year students in the SSS/SSS STEM program will be assigned a Learning Group based on their class schedule. Weekly attendance of a student’s Learning Group is required in order to be in the program.

Peer mentors act as a personal connection to campus and resources. Mentors can help you study, learn skills, or even be a friend to attend events with. Peer mentoring is customized, optional, doesn’t consume a lot of time, and can add great value to the SSS/SSS STEM experience for many students.

Students in SSS/SSS STEM have the opportunity to learn valuable skills to help them be successful in college as well as in life.

Those skills can be broken down into four categories, with many of them overlapping.

Academic skills such as choosing your programs, using resources, studying, writing and more are fostered by our advisors and learning groups. 

Personal skills are often an important area of growth in college. Skills such as independence, decision making, wellness, stress management and having a healthy social life are supported through advising and peer learning groups. 

A major concern for most students is financial skills. SSS/SSS STEM offers extra opportunities to gain financial literacy and access to scholarships. Financial workshops and discussions help students learn how to manage money and afford their educational investment.

With the ultimate goal of graduating and entering careers they love, students can take advantage of opportunities to build career skills such as resume writing, interviewing, leadership development and more.

Understanding the financial side of an investment as big as college can be daunting, but our advisors are here to help you with any questions you may have.  We can help find scholarships, grants and loans, as well as train students how to understand financial terminology and navigate financial aid processes. 

We also encourage students to contact their assigned Financial Aid Counselor! Students can identify their counselor and contact the Financial Aid office directly.

FAFSA and Financial Aid

We are available to assist you in filling for financial aid each year. Filling out the FAFSA application and completing the financial aid process including any requested verification steps is important as it determines the federal aid you will be eligible to receive. Filing the FAFSA is one of the steps in your financial aid process each year, and it is an important one as it determines the federal aid you’ll be eligible to receive. 

Scholarships

SSS and SSS STEM provide scholarships to SSS and SSS STEM students who receive the PELL Grant and are actively participating in the program. Students apply during their first-year at UW Oshkosh with the scholarships being awarded during their second-year on campus. 

Scholarships help offset the cost of college. SSS and SSS STEM students can learn about various scholarships and their eligibility and application requirements on Academic Works website.

Financial Literacy and Advising

New to college life and being away from your parents? Our advisors will help you save money, live on a budget, pay off your student debt and become a wise and effective steward of your resources.

Are you interested in pursuing specialized training in your field of study? If you seek a higher degree of education beyond SSS/SSS STEM is here to help you begin the transition from your undergraduate education to a graduate program. 

Talk to your advisor about your plan for after graduation and ask them what your next steps are.

If you decide that grad school is for you, check out our fellow TRIO program McNair Scholars. Their goal is to help you prepare for grad school by providing you with many experiences to enhance your learning and career goals once you move on from your undergraduate degree to your graduate degree and beyond.