If you are a Pell Grant recipient, you are highly encouraged to maintain at least 12 required hours* per semester for get the most financial benefit. *as of the 2025-2026 Academic Year
You must complete your FASFA and all verification requirements each year. If you need help, contact Financial Aid. You can also discuss this process with your TRIO SSS advisor before being referred to financial aid.
We do not have a GPA requirement to remain in TRIO SSS but please review the following:
The University requires that students stay in Good Academic Standing (retaining a cummulative GPA of 2.0 or higher). If a student does not remain in Good Academic Standing then they will be moved to Academic Probation. Please see the Academic Probation & Suspension website.
Additionally, in order to maintain eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid, a student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of a degree or a teaching certificate. Read more about SAP requirements by clicking here or watching this hyperlinked video.
Lastly, any TRIO SSS student on probation or continued probation will be required to meet weekly with a graduate student academic coach in the program throughout the term(s) that they are not in Good Standing. Please click here to read the whole policy and reach out to your advisor if you have any questions.
Attend welcome meeting (Sunday before the first day of class)
Attend the First Year Retreat (one of the first Friday afternoons during the Fall semester)
Take Student Success First Year Seminar (Fall in person) with Mady (US 1200)
Take First Year Writing (Spring in person) with Mady (RC 1000)
Attend early advising in fall and spring
Attend registration advising in fall and spring
Attend weekly mentoring for their whole first academic year
Check email and read the TRIO SSS Weekly Announcements
Complete their FASFA in a timely manner
*for students taking chemistry- must attend weekly university chemistry tutoring during their first semester of chemistry (click here to read the whole policy and reach out to your advisor with any questions).
Check email and read TRIO SSS Weekly Announcements
Attend registration advising once per semester
Attend one priority registration workshop per semester
Complete FASFA
If on Academic Probation or Continued Probation, attend TRIO SSS Academic Coaching weekly
Items marked with an * contain more detail and have their own subpage explanations
*Weekly mentoring during your first year in the program with a graduate student mentor
*Cohort Classes that you will take with all your TRIO SSS peers
*Financial Support through grants, scholarships, additional funds, and free printing
*Advising Support with the same academic advisor for all four years (PLUS your major advisor once you declare)
*Optional Spring Service Trip fully funded through TRIO SSS
* Optional TRIO SSS Leadership Certificate
Priority Registration for each currently enrolled semester until you graduate
Academic coaching support during your second year and beyond with a graduate student academic coach *optional for students in good academic standing, required for students on academic probation or continued probation
Optional prioritized on-campus housing for every year enrolled on main campus as long as you meet the minimum credit hour amount set by University Housing
Professional development workshops hosted in collaboration with campus partners, alumni, and community resources
Community events sponsored by the program to spark connection between program peers
Fully-Funded Educational Trips (examples include: Grandfather Mountain Biosphere, the Greensboro Civil Rights Museum, one to two optional fully-funded regional graduate school trips, and more!)
Loaner equipment (graphing calculators, scientific calculators, and a limited amount of laptops)