SSS Policy and Procedure

Policies are reflected in laws, ordinances, administrative manuals or guidelines, policy directives, and memoranda. A policy therefore describes WHAT must be done. Procedures or practices may not be recorded and may be based on custom, therefore describing HOW something is done. Below you will find the basic policies and procedures that direct Student Support Services.

History

Student Support Services is one of the National TRIO Programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education. TRIO began in the 1960's as a result of the Educational Opportunity Act of 1964, the original War on Poverty statute that initiated the Upward Bound program.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 followed, which provided the foundation for the Talent Search program. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 1968 led to the creation of the Special Services program, now called Student Support Services. Thus, by 1968, the original TRIO programs had been created: Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Special Services.

The second reauthorization of the HEA in 1972 created the Educational Opportunity Centers. Later, in 1976, the staff and leadership training institutes were implemented.

Prior to this time, the basis of eligibility for these programs was low income; however, the reauthorization of 1980 introduced the importance of considering first-generation status. This was a key concept in demonstrating that non-financial barriers existed that prohibited students from having access to and experiencing success in higher education.

The fifth reauthorization in 1986 created the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate program. The most recent reauthorization in 1992 put the TRIO programs onto the law books rather than leaving them to the sole administrative discretion of the Department of Education.

Today, TRIO programs, Student Support Services in particular, have broadened their scope to incorporate the needs of students with disabilities, giving access and educational opportunities to disabled students as well as those with first-generation college status or low income.

Policy

The general purpose of TRIO programs is to provide educational access and opportunity to college students who are first generation, low income, or have disabilities. Specifically, the purpose of Student Support Services is twofold: to increase the retention and graduation rates of eligible students and to foster an institutional climate that is supportive of first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities.

Students must apply and be accepted to be a part of the program that offers a variety of academic support services. Services include academic advising, accommodations for students with disabilities, career, financial aid and personal counseling, study skills classes, collaborative learning study groups, tutoring, and workshops. Because the program is federally funded, all services are free of cost to accepted students. SSS at UVa-Wise is funded to serve 175 participants.

Student Support Services at The University of Virginia's College at Wise has been in existence since 1973 and has provided assistance to thousands of eligible students. National studies completed on the effectiveness of SSS programs reveal that participants in SSS are more than twice as likely to remain in college than eligible students who did not participate in the program. Many SSS graduates of the College enjoy careers in government, business, education, and various health fields.

Eligibility Criteria

A student is eligible to receive services from a SSS program if he/she:

• Is a citizen or national of the U.S. or meet the residency requirements for Federal student financial assistance
• Is enrolled at the College or accepted for enrollment in the next academic term at the College
• Has academic need as demonstrated by low high school or college GPA, low SAT/ACT scores, low placement test scores, GED, failing grades, nontraditional student, self-selection, has a disability or other criteria supporting academic need as determined by SSS.
• Is low income, first generation or has a physical or learning disability

The U.S. Department of Education requires that two-thirds of all participants be first generation and low income or be students with disabilities. The remaining one-third may be first generation, low income or have a disability. Of those students with disabilities, one-third must be low income.

• The Office of Admissions sends a mailing about SSS to all students who have been accepted and confirmed. The mailing includes a brochure, application, and a letter of invitation to apply to the program from the SSS Director.

• A target pool of entering students is selected comprising those who are: 1) admitted provisionally or 2) admitted with an academic GPA of less than a 3.0 or 3) self-identify themselves as having academic need. Students from these categories demonstrate the highest need for academic support. Follow-up mailings are sent to these students encouraging eligible students to apply to SSS.

• Referrals are sought from other TRIO programs in the area, namely SSS, Upward Bound, and Talent Search programs from local community colleges as well as from outside agencies and faculty and staff.

• SSS staff participates in the College's summer orientation program, talking to incoming students and their parents about the project and its services and advising students who have submitted completed applications and have been determined as eligible for the program by SSS staff.

• All submitted applications are evaluated on the basis of the eligibility requirements established by the Department of Education: first generation, low income, and/or documented disability. Participants must also demonstrate academic need. Eligibility must be documented by transcripts, placement and test scores, disability documentation, and financial aid information.
  

• All participants must sign a contract accepting the terms of membership. Students who fail to meet these requirements or fail to receive any service from the program over the course of one year are placed on inactive status. Inactive students do not
  receive the full benefits of the program, e.g. priority registration, mailings, etc.

Support

Student Support Services provides academic support services to eligible students. These services include:

• Academic Advising
  SSS staff serve as freshman advisors to project freshmen and as academic and co-advisors to other participants. SSS participants receive priority registration; however, students must work with SSS staff to obtain this service. The advisement process involves course selection, schedule changes, declaration and changing of majors, related assessment, and referral for other services such as tutoring.

• Accommodations for students with disabilities
  Students with learning or physical disabilities are eligible to receive in-class and other accommodations. Students must self-identify themselves to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at the College and provide documentation, as outlined in the Disability Services Student handbook, prior to receiving accommodations. Documentation must support the kind of accommodations received by the student. SSS works cooperatively with the ADA Coordinator in the service delivery of these accommodations.

• Laptop Loan Program
  Participants may check out laptops each semester on a first-come, first-serve basis. This allows students to work on papers and do school work at times and places more convenient to their schedules.

• Computer assistance
  SSS has computers with the Microsoft Office Suite available for participants. All computers have software that is compatible with computers in labs across campus. Also, training on special software for students with disabilities is available.

• Counseling
  Career, financial aid, graduate school, and personal counseling services are available to participants by appointment.

• Information Dissemination
  SSS publishes quarterly newsletters highlighting the accomplishments of participants. Also, SSS freshmen and upperclassmen are contacted via e-mail and through a freshmen mentoring program to disseminate information regarding financial aid, scholarships, internship opportunities, workshops, and other SSS, campus, and community activities.

• L.I.F.E. Plan Meetings
  These individualized meetings are conducted by SSS staff at the beginning of each semester to help students identify goals, majors, career interests, to assess academic needs and identify appropriate services to address those needs.

• Peer Mentoring
  Each entering freshman will be assigned a peer mentor who is responsible for communicating with assigned students on a weekly basis. Methods of communication include e-mail, phone calls, mail and face-to-face contact, either one-on-one or in group settings. Peer mentors are at least sophomores in good academic and social standing at the College and have been active in SSS.

• Study Skills Classes
  SSS staff teach 1-hr. study skills classes for participants. These courses double as the College's liberal arts freshman seminar (LART 195) and fulfill the requirement for the general education core. Topics covered include effective time management, note taking skills, goal setting, and other related issues.

• Testing
  SSS provides alternate testing space for participants with documented disabilities. Students must fill out an alternate testing form requesting this service one week in advance. Also, on a case-by-case basis, testing accommodations can be made for other participants who need to make up tests; however, the students must adhere to the stipulations of the faculty member and SSS and must provide advance notice prior to taking any tests in the SSS offices.

• TRANSIT
  TRANSIT is a peer support group for nontraditional and transfer students. Participants meet regularly to discuss relevant issues. A peer mentor is selected to serve as a resource for the group and makes regular contacts with each member of the group.

• Tutoring
  Participants have the option of receiving one-on-one or group peer tutoring in most any subject offered at the College. Students request assistance by providing a copy of their class schedule.

• Workshops
  A series of workshops is offered during the spring semester of each year on a variety of topics relevant to success in college and identifying majors and career interests.

• SSS Supplemental Grant Aid
  Direct monies are awarded to first and second year students who meet grant aid eligibility criteria.

• All services are free of cost to participants and can be obtained by individual request and appointment.

• SSS professional and student staff document services received by participants.