TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at UNC Pembroke recently celebrated National TRIO Day with various activities Feb. 21-26.

These events included academic skill development and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). During an event on Feb. 25, Dr. Calvina Ellerbe, associate professor of Sociology and April Locklear, assistant director for Employer Relations, spoke with students about self-awareness and goal setting. Participants shared personal testimonies about their experiences as program participants, stating SSS provided a sense of belonging, assisted them through challenges and encouraged them to meet goals.

National TRIO Day commemorates the annual achievements of the Federal TRIO programs across the United States. The Educational Opportunity Act of 1964 established the first TRIO program called Upward Bound. A year later, the Higher Education Act of 1965 created Talent Search. In 1968, Student Support Services was established. These three programs were named TRIO. Additional programs were designed to provide educational services to students across the country. TRIO SSS is funded 100% from a grant through the U.S. Department of Education.

Student Support Services has been on the campus of UNCP since 1968. The program serves 200 students and provides services to address its participants' educational, career, financial and professional development. The goal of SSS is to support the persistence, performance and degree completion of its participants.

The objectives of TRIO SSS:

• 75% of participants will persist from one academic year to the next academic year or have earned a bachelor's degree from UNCP;
•  76% of participants will meet the performance level required for Good Academic Standing; and
• 35% of new participants served each year will graduate from UNCP with a bachelor's degree within six years.

The program exceeded these expectations for the 2020-2021 academic year:

• 89% of participants enrolled in the 2020-2021 academic year either persisted to the 2021-2022 academic year or graduated;
• 87.5% of SSS participants were in Good Academic Standing during the 2020-2021 academic year; and
• 63.79% of SSS participants graduated with a bachelor's degree within six years of entering college at UNCP.