Student Support Services Program

The Federal TRIO Grant Programs are designed to identify and provide services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Originally, TRIO consisted of three programs: Educational Opportunity Centers, Student Support Services (SSS), and the McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. Currently, TRIO includes eight programs that target and serve low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to assist them with progressing through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs (Department of Education, 2024). 

Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Student Support Services (SSS) program was authorized in 1968 by the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a), as amended to address the 1960s War on Poverty. SSS is legislated by Title IV Higher Education Act Section 402 D. The Department of Education shows eight federally funded TRIO programs that support first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities throughout secondary, post-secondary, and graduate-level education.  There were 1,162 SSS programs in the 2022-23 academic year, and, there are 1159 programs for the 2023-24 academic year.  The total number of participants served in the 2022-23 academic year was 209,286, and 208,738 in 2023-24.

SSS aims to increase the postsecondary persistence and graduation rates of low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The SSS program supports the needs of underprivileged, underrepresented students by providing support while they are pursuing their degrees. All participants in the SSS program must exhibit an academic need and meet one of these eligibility criteria: low-income college student, first-generation status, and/or disability. Their academic needs are defined as follows: low high school grades, low admission test scores, predictive indicators, academic proficiency tests, low college grades, high school equivalency, failing grades, out of the academic pipeline for five or more years, limited English proficiency, lack of education and/or career goals, lack of college preparedness for college-level coursework, and need for academic support to raise grade(s) in the required course(s)/academic major.

Montgomery College has been the recipient of the SSS grant since 2001. All students in the SSS program are enrolled at least half-time, meet at least one of the eligibility criteria (low-income status, first-generation status, or disability status), and exhibit at least one academic need. The program must provide the following services: academic tutoring, guidance in selecting postsecondary academic courses, information for students regarding public and private scholarships and financial aid programs, assistance with completing financial aid applications, counseling services to improve students’ financial and economic literacy, and assistance with students’ applications to, and obtaining financial aid from, four-year programs.

The SSS program offers personalized counseling services, introduces students to cultural events and academic or mentoring programs, and facilitates campus visits to four-year institutions. The SSS grant requires the program to provide students with information about public programs and offer scholarships and financial aid. The efforts that the program makes to implement innovative financial assistance and other support practices and to provide ancillary support to ensure that these participants obtain needed financial ability to further their education or move into the workplace include assistance with completing the financial aid application (FAFSA), the provision of counseling services to improve students’ financial and economic literacy, the coordination of financial literacy workshops that are facilitated by a financial aid counselor, financial aid information, reminders of deadlines, student loan education, assistance in applying for public and private scholarships, and money management workshops. SSS staff monitor students’ financial aid progress reports throughout the academic year. The funding cycle of the grant is five years and must be renewed every five years.

Individualized tutoring is offered in Math and English. College wide tutoring services are also offered. Each semester varies, so please check the current schedule.

• Dr. Szwerc - Physics, Engineering Science
  • Monday/Wednesday, before 10:30 a.m. Friday
  • Click here for an appointment
• Dr. McCleskey - Anatomy and Physiology
  • Click here for an appointment
• Samiya Farhin - Biology, Chemistry
  • Click here for an appointment
• Prof. Kapikian - English, Humanities
  • Click here for an appointment

• Alana Light - English, Anthropology
• Danny Setiawan - English, Reading, Blackboard

• Dr. Crump - English, Reading
• Ms. Boyer - Business, STSU courses
• Ms. Nguyen - Biology, Psychology

• For more information on Math and Sciences courses
  Please visit the Math/Science Center, Macklin Tower 002  240-567-5200
• For more information on Reading, Writing, and Speech Courses
  Please visit the Writing, Reading and Language Center, Humanities, 002 240-567-7402
• For more information on Grammar, Reading, and World Languages with digital language lab
  Please visit the Writing, Reading and Language Center, Macklin Tower, 020 240-567-4160
• For more information on Computer Application and Computer Science courses
  Please visit the CA/CS Tutoring, Humanities Building, 320 240-567-5186

While Student Support Services counselors occasionally schedule workshops, our more typical practice is to have Student Support Services students request a workshop or tutoring session when needed, either just for themselves or for a group. Contact Becky Boyer, Professor Crump or Huong Nguyen to get a workshop quickly organized and scheduled. Choose from the following menu or request something new!

Student Support Services has demonstrated measurable success based on the APRs' program data.

*A project that served less than 90 percent of the number of students the project was funded to serve in 2023-24 is not eligible to earn points for any of the criteria in this assessment year.

Student Support Services graduates transfer to: UMD, UMBC, Towson, UMGC, Howard, MSU, UMAB, Georgia Tech, George Washington University, Yale, MIT, UB, UMB, and Salisbury.

In mathematics, statistics, biology, and other STEM fields, peer tutoring has been demonstrated to be important to student success.  In addition to the three full-time staff, SSS has one STEM adjunct faculty tutor, between 3-4 peer tutors, and three volunteers - Mr. Neil Wertheimer, a full-time writer, editor, publisher, and content strategist; Dr. Ed McCleskey, a biologist and former medical school professor; Dr. Richard Szwerc, a full-time physics professor and former submarine engineer; and Dr. Albert Kapikian, an English faculty member.

The TRIO study space is a home, refuge, and sanctuary. The theme of the student testimonials is the welcoming study space, equipped with technology, supplies, and refreshments, which all participants found to be most beneficial. The participants described the study space as their “productive home,” where they felt they belonged in a “family-like” environment.  A welcoming study space fosters an atmosphere that promotes a sense of community, reducing isolation, especially for first-generation students, and encourages them to engage more actively in their academic pursuits.  This sense of community can be particularly important for the Student Support Services population, a marginalized group.

Students shared that TRIO staff were excellent mentors during and after their academic journeys at the college because they were responsive, reliable, caring, provided follow-up, and maintained contact even after they left the program. Staff and tutors understand the urgency of a student’s need for immediate attention and write letters of recommendation on short notice.

Financial literacy is a mandatory requirement for the grant, and students reported that they benefited greatly from this requirement. Even after graduating or leaving the program, they still recall when to renew their FAFSA and the consequences of taking out loans.

Students found the workshops effective because they are based on their suggestions. TRIO’s workshops are described as “fun,” “innovative,” and “useful,” offering “practical information.” A few of the workshops that were mentioned as memorable were “How to Become a Medical Doctor,” “Jeopardy,” and the most recent, a Shakespeare workshop in which students were exposed to and learned to recite monologues. The workshops varied from semester to semester to accommodate the needs of a diverse student body that often faces barriers, including financial and food insecurity and a lack of family support and other obligations. Student-initiated workshops play a crucial role in addressing the unique challenges requesters face. In addition to student-requested workshops, mandatory workshops on financial literacy, time management, and career planning will continue, as they have been proven to be important tools in helping students succeed academically and professionally.

Include college visits, learning and playing sports, exploring museums, and attending shows and events requested by the students. While promoting a sense of belonging, cultural events offer students opportunities to explore diverse cultural identities, engage in networking, and acquire new skills. Participation in cultural and campus events is particularly essential for the SSS population, as it connects students to the college community, making them more engaged and prepared for the classroom and the workforce.

The most beneficial services included free laptops, graphing calculators, grocery gift cards, financial assistance with transfer applications, and emergency grants posted to students’ accounts. In an era of technological reliance, access to a laptop with internet connectivity is a basic necessity for students. The much-needed resources allowed them to continue their studies and transfer successfully.