If you are serious about earning a college degree, Medaille College’s TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Program can help! SSS is a federally-funded program whose mission is to help eligible participants graduate with the grades and skills necessary for success at Medaille and beyond. Medaille’s SSS Program has served more than 200 low-income, first-generation students per year since 1980.

2012 TRiO Recognition Celebration

April 26, 5:30 p.m.
Buffalo Campus

Students and guests can register for this event online. 

Student Support Is Our Focus

As a TRiO SSS participant, you will have access to free support services above and beyond those offered to Medaille’s general population. You will also have the opportunity to work closely with a professional Student Success Advocate, who will assist you in designing an academic success plan tailored to fit your goals and dreams.

Benefits of Becoming a TRiO SSS Student

There are many FREE services offered by TRiO, including:

• Academic Counseling
  TRiO's committed staff provides ongoing guidance to ensure that participants stay on track with academic goals
   
• Personal Advisement
  TRiO staff provide participants with personal cheerleading and academic coaching, as well as assistance in navigating campus resources
   
• Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs)
  IGPs are developed one-on-one with all participants in order to address the specific needs of each student, year by year
   
• Supplemental Grant Aid
  Grants are available to active first and second year TRiO participants to help offset student loan burden
   
• Graduate School and Professional Licensing Subsidies
  Subsidies are available to offset fees associated with applying to graduate schools and/or professional licensing exams
   
• Graduate School Exploration
  Participants have access to a comprehensive library of information on graduate programs in New York State in addition to TRiO-sponsored visits to area graduate schools, preparation for graduate school entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, etc.), and assistance with composing personal statements
   
• Career Guidance
  TRiO partners with the Career Planning Center to assist students with selecting major and career paths, developing postgraduate plans, and designing effective résumés and cover letters
   
• Financial Guidance
  TRiO staff act as liaisons with the Office of Financial Aid and assist participants with financial planning through workshops on establishing credit, managing debt, avoiding identity theft, creating a budget, choosing the right bank account, and understanding credit reports and credit scores. A special emphasis is placed on assisting students to manage student loan burden
   
• Cultural Programming
  TRiO sponsors participant attendance at a variety of events around Buffalo, enabling you to gain exposure to events you might not otherwise have the opportunity to see
   
• Workshops
  TRiO offers workshops on a variety of topics of unique interest to college students, including academic, learning, and life skills, as well as health and wellness strategies
   
• Tutoring
  TRiO SSS participants are eligible for extended tutorial sessions with a wide variety of peer and professional tutors in the College's Academic Support Center.
   
• TRiO SSS Computer Lab
  TRiO has its own computer lab available specifically for participants. In addition, students have access to SkillsTutor, a web-based supplemental instructio n and tutoring program for brushing up on math, writing, and science skills
   
• Laptop and Calculator Loan
  No computer? No problem! Participants can borrow laptops and graphing calculators to do homework or research
   
• Textbook Loan and Textbook Exchange Program
  A limited number of textbooks are available for loan for TRiO participants. We are always expanding our library!
   
• Peer Mentor Program
  The TRiO SSS Peer Mentoring Program matches first-year TRiO students with peer mentors who act as resources, sounding boards, and allies. Peer mentors are TRiO participants who have successfully completed at least one year at Medaille, making them uniquely suited to provide student-centered support to first-year TRiO students. The Peer Mentors also lead community service efforts, providing all participants with an opportunity to lead by example as they work together to address important issues in their community
   
• Alumni Mentor Program
  The Alumni Mentoring Program is a new initiative that enables participants to network with TRiO alumni who have graduated and obtained positions in their desired fields. Prospective graduates make career inroads and learn from former TRiO students willing to share their expertise
   
• Services for Students with Disabilities
  We collaborate with the Office of Disability Services to provide students with documented disabilities access to note-takers, testing accommodations, books-on-tape, adaptive equipment, and other services when appropriate. The TRiO SSS technology lab, located in the Academic Support Center, has computers equipped with Dragon Naturally Speaking, Zoom Text, and Kurzweil Reader

Responsibilities of TRiO SSS Participants

To be considered active in the Program and eligible to receive all program services, students must:

• Meet with their assigned TRiO Student Success Advocate each semester
• Create and follow an Individual Graduation Plan
• Maintain contact with their assigned mentor (for first year students)
• Attend at least one TRiO-sponsored activity each semester (i.e., workshops, cultural events, etc.)