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What is TRIO Student Support Services?

 Student Support Services (SSS) is one of several federally funded TRIO programs for education. The goals of SSS are to help students to be successful in college and graduate from Southwestern, to encourage them to transfer to a four-year school, and to assist with the transfer process. Students accepted into the program will receive SSS services through graduation from Southwestern.

SSS services are FREE and include academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, computer lab/study area with free printing, career exploration, transfer assistance, help with FAFSA and scholarship applications, student success workshops, visits to Oregon’s four-year schools, cultural enrichment activities and more - all in a warm and welcoming environment with people who care about YOU!

Eligibility:

To be eligible for SSS services, students must be accepted for enrollment at Southwestern, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, AND meet at least one of the following criteria: be a first-generation college student (neither parent earned a bachelor’s degree by your 18th birthday), meet federal low-income guidelines (we can help you determine this), or have a documented disability (physical or learning). Students who have already earned an associate's degree or higher may not be eligible for Southwestern's SSS program, but will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Getting Started

Thank you for your interest in the SSS program at Southwestern. Please complete all parts of this application to the best of your ability. Please note, you will be required to provide your or your family's taxable income (depending on if you are dependent or independent for FAFSA purposes), therefore we recommend that you gather your most recent federal tax return before you begin. You cannot save and restart this application. You may want to gather the required documents, and then complete your application. If you have any questions about this application or admission to our program, please contact us at sss@socc.edu or 541-888-7419.

General Information
Last Name *
First Name *
Preferred Name
Mailing Address *
City/State/Zip *
Southwestern Email Address *
Cell Phone Number *
Home Phone Number
SWOCC ID Number *
Which campus will be your primary campus? *
Preferred Contact Method *

Demographic Information

Pronouns: What and Why
Date of Birth *
Gender *
Pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them, etc.) *

Ethnicity
Race, Hispanic *

Race (You MUST select YES for at least one race. For race definitions, click the link below.)

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
American Indian or Alaska Native Native *
Asian *
Black or African American *
White *
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander *

Program Eligibility
Are you a US Citizen? *
If "No", are you a Permanent Resident?
Did either of your parents graduate from a 4-year college/university and earn a Bachelor's degree? *
Do you have a learning disability, a visual, hearing or mobility impairment, or a physical, mental health, or other invisible condition? *
If you have a disability, have you submitted documentation to Southwestern's Accessible Education Office? *
*Having a disability, as defined under federal law, is one of the criteria that may qualify a student to apply to the SSS program. To qualify as a student with a disability, documentation MUST be supplied to Southwestern's Accessible Education Office.

Background Information
Did you graduate from high school with a standard diploma? *
If "Yes", what year did you graduate? *
If "No", did you earn a modified high school diploma?
If "No", did you earn a GED, and if so, what year did you earn it?
Are you currently in high school taking college classes (concurrent enrollment)? *
Have you attended any other colleges or universities? *
If so, what is the highest degree obtained? *
How many college credits have you completed? *
Have you ever been on academic warning in college? *
Have you ever been on financial aid warning? *
Is English your native language? *
How long have you been out of school? (high school or college) *
What date did/will you start taking classes at Southwestern? *
How many credits are you currently taking? *
Do you need advising for transfer planning? *
Are you a current or prior TRIO participant? *

Educational Funding
Are you currently receiving financial aid for college? *
If No, Have you completed a FAFSA?
If No, how will you pay for your college education?

Academic Needs
Select all academic areas in which you feel you may need tutoring.
Writing
Math
History, Psychology or other Social Science
Sciences
Computer Skills/Technology
Other (list):

Educational and Career Goals
Do you plan to graduate from Southwestern with a degree or certificate? *
What Southwestern degree or certificate are you seeking? (AAOT, AGS, ASOT, AAS, etc.) *
List your field of interest if known. List Undecided if unknown. *
Do you plan to transfer to a 4-year college/university to earn a Bachelor's degree? *
Name(s)of the college(s) you are interested in attending after graduation or transfer from Southwestern (if known)

Financial Information

Determining independent or dependent status: 

Dependency Status | Federal Student Aid

If you answer "Yes" to any of the options below you are considered independent. If you answer "No" to ALL of the questions, then taxable income must come from a parent or legal guardian, please open the Parent Financial Statement found below. 
24 years of age or older *
Are you currently or have you previously been married? *
Do children live with you and receive more than 1/2 of their support from you? *
Are you now, or were you in the past, an orphan or ward of the court, unhoused, or an unaccompanied youth? Or do you have an Independent Override from Southwestern's Financial Aid Office? *
Do you provide more than one half of the support for other dependents living with you? *
Are you a current member or veteran of the US Armed Forces? *
List household Taxable Income for 2023 (Form 1040, line 15 lists taxable income. Do not list gross or net income) if you answered "Yes" to any of the questions in this section.
How many people live in your household?

Dependent Students: To verify household taxable income, your parent must sign the provided Financial Statement Form found above or email a signed copy of their 2023 tax return to sss@socc.edu. For other options, please call 541-888-7419. This information is required to establish program eligibility and will not be shared with other departments or entities on or off campus.
The Parent Financial Statement can be downloaded and filled out to be attached here, or you can email it back to us at a later time at sss@socc.edu 

Essays

Please write a minimum of five sentences for each of the three essays. This will also serve as a writing sample, so use your best grammar and spelling skills.
Please describe your educational goals. How do you feel TRIO Student Support Services can help you to attain your goals? *
What challenges or obstacles may create barriers for you to complete college? *
What motivates you to go to college? *
How did you hear about the TRIO SSS program? (short answer ok) *

Student Publicity Release

I certify that if I am accepted into the TRIO SSS program, the staff may include my name, and/or picture in publications, including the SSS newsletter and website, which highlight student accomplishments and participation in campus and TRIO SSS activities.
Do you consent to the Publicity Release? *

Release of Information

I certify that to the best of my knowledge, statements I have made on this form are complete and true. Failure to disclose and submit complete and accurate information may result in the denial of acceptance to the TRIO SSS program. I also understand participation in SSS requires program access to my student records both at Southwestern and intended transfer institutions. I approve release of my grades, transcripts, financial aid information, test results and any other information related to my educational endeavors to SSS from entities including Financial Aid, Admissions/Registrar's Office, National Student Clearinghouse, etc., with the assurance that the information will be held in the strictest of confidence and in accordance with FERPA.

If I am accepted into the TRIO SSS program, I give permission for program staff to gather academic progress information from my instructors and I authorize my instructors to provide this information. 
Do you consent to Release of Information? *
Signature and Date *
Please select a signature verification type.
The Student Support Services program at Southwestern Oregon Community College is one of the TRIO programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Division of Special Services for the Disadvantaged, Title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965. The TRIO SSS program at Southwestern is 100% federally funded at approximately $346,835 per year.
Southwestern Oregon Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, national origin, age, disability status, gender identity, or protected veterans in employment, education, or activities as set forth in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations.