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TRIO Coach Matt with a student.

TRIO Student Support Services

TRIO SSS application is NOW OPEN
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Normandale is now host to two TRIO Student Support Services grants, serving 264 students each year. Students in the STEM and health science majors work with STEM and health success coaches, and all other students meet with traditional TRIO SSS success coaches. All TRIO SSS students receive academic advising, degree and transfer planning, visits to 4-year colleges/universities, financial literacy and financial aid information, and fun programs and events.

Students in the STEM and health sciences also participate in company tours and Tech Talks and may qualify for TRIO SSS STEM scholarships.

Former Academy of Math & Science (AMS) participants are especially encouraged to apply for the new TRIO SSS STEM and Health program.

Want help navigating registration and financial aid applications? Need answers to your college questions? Join TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS)!

You’ll meet frequently with an assigned TRIO SSS coach to set and achieve your academic goals through transfer and/or graduation. TRIO SSS coaches provide one-on-one advising to help students reach their goals.

TRIO SSS Coaches Students to Graduation

Our motto is, “We coach students to success: Persistence. Performance. Completion”

TRIO SSS may be for you if you identify as one or more of the following:

  • First generation to go to college; neither parent has a four-year degree
  • A student with a disability
  • Low income, often indicated by being a federal Pell Grant recipient

Additionally, you must be:

  • A U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
  • Someone who intends to graduate from Normandale and transfer to earn a four-year degree
  • Pursuing first bachelors degree
  • Registered for 8 or more credits

You are especially encouraged to apply if you are an alum of a college readiness program like TRIO Upward Bound, TRIO Educational Talent Search, another TRIO SSS, AVID or College Possible.

The following students are NOT eligible to apply for TRIO SSS:

  • PSEO students
  • Students on SAP suspension
  • Students who are undocumented/DACA
  • International students

Here's what has happened last semester and what's to come!

Spring 2024 TRIO Student Support Services semester review

Make an Appointment

Questions about TRIO SSS and applying? Email TRIO SSS, contact Director Aly Olson or contact other team members:

To start things off, submit a TRIO SSS application. TRIO SSS staff will contact you to ask for additional information. Then TRIO staff will notify students who are accepted into the program. If you’re accepted, you will:

  • Participate in an intake meeting to secure your spot in the program
  • Work with your TRIO SSS coach on your educational goals and plans
  • Stay focused on achieving academic success at Normandale

Increase your chances for acceptance:

  • Early registration each term for best course selection
  • Course and degree planning
  • Applying for financial aid and scholarships and understanding related processes
  • Using financial aid responsibly
  • Planning and applying to transfer to other colleges
  • Developing organizational and study skills
  • Visiting four-year colleges
  • Informational workshops and cultural and social activities
  • Connecting to helpful resources on and off campus
  • Access to the TRIO lounge with snacks!

Note: TRIO SSS coaches do not provide individual tutoring or education aid services like those offered in K-12 systems with an IEP, nor does TRIO SSS provide scholarships.

Marquis, a TRIO student.

“Without TRIO, James’ support, and the support of everyone in the program, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. In TRIO, I developed really good study and planning tools, so when I started planning for this semester, I had a level head and was able to make decisions on my own.”

Marquis Strauther, TRIO Student
Jennifer, a TRIO student.

“I absolutely love being in TRIO because my coach, Matt, is kind and patient with me. He doesn’t judge me or make me feel like I’m dumb. School, for me, is new and scary, and TRIO helps me stay on track, keep calm, and pushes me to believe in myself.”

Jennifer Taylor, TRIO Student

TRIO Background and Goals

TRIO SSS is a free U.S. Department of Education program designed to increase the college retention and graduation rates of students whose parents did not graduate from a four-year college, or who are low-income, or who have a disability.

Established in 1964, TRIO SSS programs are hosted by colleges and universities in all 50 states, as well as several U.S. territories. They currently serve nearly 400,000 students.

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES GOALS

Normandale’s TRIO SSS coaches are accountable for achieving the following goals:

  • Persistence Goal: 70% of all participants served by Normandale TRIO SSS will persist from one academic year to the beginning of the next academic year or earn an associate's degree or certificate from Normandale Community College and/or transfer to a four-year institution by the fall term of the next academic year.
  • Performance Goal: 70% of all enrolled TRIO SSS participants served will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing at Normandale Community College. Good academic standing at Normandale is defined as a cumulative earned grade point average of at least 2.0 and an accumulated earned credit rate of at least 67%.
  • Completion Goal: 20% of new participants served each year will graduate from Normandale Community College with an associate’s degree or certificate within four years.

TRIO Student Support Services is funded through the U.S. Department of Education with the 2023-24 amount of $274,374. Normandale Community College generously provides additional funding for student events, staff training and supplies.

Learn more about the TRIO SSS program’s impact and goals

Contact

TRIO Support Student Services

Triosss@normandale.edu

952-358-8285

L 1735-49

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

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