Student Support Services

Program Description:
Program Description: The Student Support Services Program provides supportive services to disadvantaged college students to enhance their potential for successfully completing the education program in which they are enrolled and to facilitate their transition to the next level of higher education.

Sponsoring Institutions:
Student Support Services Programs may only be sponsored by institutions of higher education. . Each applying institution must be prepared to assure that each student participating in the project will be offered sufficient financial assistance to meet that student’s full financial need.
Application/Funding Process:
Competitions for Student Support Services funding are held every four years. Second, third, and fourth year funding is based on approval of a non-competing continuation application. The grant competitions are held every five years.

Participant Eligibility:
To receive assistance, students must be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a program of post-secondary education at a sponsoring institution of higher education and have an established need for academic assistance. All participants must be low-income, first generation, and/or physically disabled.

Services Provided by Student Support Services
• Instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, and other subjects necessary for success in education beyond high school
• Tutorial services
• Mentoring
• Academic, financial, and personal counseling
• Exposure to cultural events
• Assistance in obtaining student financial aid
• Assistance in securing admission and financial assistance for enrollment in four-year institutions (function of SSS at two-year institutions)
• Assistance in securing admission and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate and professional programs (function of SSS at four-year institutions)
• Information about career options
• Direct financial assistance (grant aid) to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants.