how long are scratch offs good for:TRIO Student Support Services

Our physical office in 425 Smith Memorial Student Union building is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We will continue to have our?Zoom virtual front desk?which will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Current Portland State TRIO - Student Support Services students: Need to contact or schedule a virtual?meeting with your advisor? Go to?Staff Profiles. In-person appointments will be limited because of Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.?

For all other meetings or questions; please?call 503-725-3815, visit our?Zoom virtual front desk, email us at?triosss@www.biggerthanus.net?or visit our?Contact Us page.

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is a college retention and graduation program for undergraduate students, which helps them develop the academic skills and personal development necessary to successfully pursue and complete their first Bachelor's degree.?We currently have two TRIO - SSS programs - "Classic" and "STEM" (for those in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math majors, including?Public Health Studies). Students accepted into TRIO Student Support Services will be a part of the program until they graduate from Portland State.

To qualify, a student must be an undergraduate who is income eligible, a first generation college student (neither parent or guardian has a bachelor’s degree) and/or have a documented disability. In addition, a student must also demonstrate academic need. We only have limited spaces each academic year, so please turn in your completed application as soon as possible.

Apply Now >>

TRIO Student Support Services assists students to

Strengthen academic skills necessary for college level course work through classes and workshops
Connect with cultural and social enrichment activities to find a sense of community
Improve and maintain the grade point average necessary to achieve academic goals
Graduate with a?Bachelor’s degree

TRIO Student Support Services can provide you the following services

Academic and career advising
Priority class registration for the following term
Graduate and professional school counseling
Financial Literacy such as loan forgiveness, financial aid application and managing personal budgets
Access to our student lounge and quiet study areas
FREE printing in our computer lab
Laptop and calculator loaner programs
Individual writing support
For credit classes to students at no charge such as a college writing class and from transition programs of Summer Bridge (incoming freshmen) and Transfer Bridge (incoming transfer students)
Scholarship resources and assistance
Make appropriate referrals to campus and community resources

What is TRIO?

Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, and ethnic background or economic circumstance. In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRiO Programs (initially just 3 programs). While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRiO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Our Mission

The mission of TRIO programs is to expand educational opportunity to persons often underrepresented in higher education, increase the retention and graduation rates of eligible low income, first generation and disabled undergraduate students and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success for those students through comprehensive services and advocacy.

Student of the Month: Floren Lebaron

I started my life deep in the Yucatan jungle in a small Mayan town called San Antonio, with limited prospects and poverty. I wasn’t allowed to earn an education until I escaped from Chihuahua when I was 14 years old. I caught a ride to the United States with mangled legs, without the ability to read, without parental support, and I quickly experienced culture shock. For a few years it was a horrible part of my life yet then a wonderful lady adopted me at age 16. With her help I prepared for high school, went through many major surgeries, and I was given the chance to start healing physically and psychologically. After I graduated high school with certification in Robotics, I moved to Portland Oregon with the goal to start college, start pursuing an IT career, and continuing my progress towards overcoming my deficits. I had to have more surgeries but I learned how to take care of my health with nutrition, exercise, gardening, etc. I then graduated with an Associates Degree in Computer and Network Administration and honors. I was still struggling with my health and other aspects of my life and I was close to not having a place to live again. I exchanged my skills for resources and tried to utilize the opportunities available. Many kind and empathetic people helped me as I struggled. I then started studying in my bachelors program at Portland State to improve my business skills and live in university housing. TRIO has helped me tremendously throughout the years and because of them and other empathetic people, I recently graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and another honors award. When I first started my degree at Portland State, I had difficulty managing the academic system, there were numerous times when I didn’t have the funds to pay my account balance, and TRIO played an important role, helping me reach graduation. I have been doing IT freelance throughout the years and accumulating letters of recognition and recommendation. I now work for Portland State as a Global Classroom Technician and I truly love my job. I feel appreciated, valued, and I enjoy what I do. I hope to continue growing and overcoming my obstacles and one day I will give back much more then I already have.?I am now starting my masters degree in Data Science for Business and I feel so much gratitude for all of the wonderful people who were so influential in my life. I know that I had to push myself forward yet I don’t know how this would all be possible without the kindness from others.

?

TRIO - ?Student Support Services (SSS) programs, "Classic' & "STEM" at Portland State University are?100% US Department of Education funded.? ?"Classic"?receives $426,814??and "STEM" receives $261,888 for a total of $688,702 annually.?Our goals are to increase the retention, graduation, and good academic?standing of eligible students.?