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TRIO Student Support Services

We are invested in student success!

Washington State University Tri-Cities first received a $1.1 million grant in fall 2010 from the U.S. Department of Education to create a TRIO Student Support Services Program for low-income, first-generation, and disabled students.  In fall 2015, we were refunded for another five years to continue providing beneficial services to our students.  WSU Tri-Cities will continue to use this five-year grant to increase student success to graduation. We were funded to serve 140 eligible undergraduate students annually.

The grant is financing three full-time staff members to offer one-on-one tutoring, counseling, advising, and mentoring through the cultural change of going to college. The staff also will give workshops on topics including study skills, note taking, financial aid, career preparation, and financial literacy.

The U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO programs are targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs. Learn more about TRIO

Who Qualifies

First, you must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident and enrolled in a degree-seeking program at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
In addition, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • First-generation college student (neither parent or primary caregiver has completed a bachelor’s degree), or
  • Meet federal income guidelines, or
  • Have a documented disability

Mission

Our mission is to help participants to:

  • Develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to complete a post-secondary education
  • Empower them to confidently take control of their academic success
  • Achieve academic success and, ultimately, a bachelor’s degree

Objectives

The TRIO Student Support Services program at WSU Tri-Cities will meet the following grant objectives:

  • Serve 140 participants each year
  • Assure that 2/3 of participants qualify as first-generation and low-income, or disabled
  • 72% of participants served will persist from one academic year to the beginning of the next academic year
  • 88% of participants served will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing
  • 63% of new participants served each year will graduate within six years

How to Apply

Click on the “Apply now to TRIO” button at the bottom of this page, complete, print, sign, and submit the completed application to the WSU Tri-Cities TRIO SSS office by email at triostudentsupport@tricity.wsu.edu, or bring it in person to East Building, room 203.  Once the completed application is received, next steps will be provided.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 509-372-7157.

  • NOTE: If you are under 24 years of age and considered a dependent for federal financial aid purposes (you are required to provide parental financial information on the FAFSA), you must add your taxable income and your parents’ together on the Income Verification.  If federal financial aid considers you an independent student (you are not required to provide parental financial information on the FAFSA), you can qualify based on just your income.
  • NOTE: For students indicating a documented disability, you will need to be registered with the WSU Tri-Cities Disability Services Office.