Student Support Services

Participant Handbook

“Providing The Tools For Student To Build Their Own Success.”

Ables Hall Rooms 205 ~ 212

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College 200 I Street NE

Miami, OK 74354

Welcome to Student Support Services

TRiO\tree-oh\,noun: a community of students

and staff committed to the challenges and

rewards of learning, graduation and transfer.

Student Support Services is funded 100% by the

U.S. Department of Education

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex/gender, age or qualified disability.

2

Welcome to Student Support Services

Student Support Services is excited to have you as a participant in our program! We work very hard to provide a supportive and encouraging environment to help you with your educational goals. It takes courage to make changes that are required for success. As someone said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got”. To change your future you must begin with yourself. Success takes personal commitment and a willingness to accept help and to even lend a hand to a fellow student.

As a participant in SSS, you are encouraged to utilize the facilities in Ables Hall, room 205 and 212. Each time you use the facilities, whether it be to use the computers, copier, get tutoring assistance or any other activity, we ask that you sign in at one of the entrances. Our funding is dependent upon the services we provide to eligible participants. So please feel free to use our facilities and sign-in when you come in the door. Our office hours are generally 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Some of the services we offer include the following:

One-on-One and Group Tutoring Computer Lab and Study Area D2L and Gold Key Assistance Academic Advisement and Career Guidance Community Service Opportunities Cultural and Educational Events Transfer Counseling and College Visits

We also provide workshops and power lunches that are designed to empower you through personal development, cultural awareness and networking. Topics in the past have included motivational sessions, financial literacy, note-taking, writing skills and the hunt for scholarships.

Your success is important to us! One of the most important things you can do is to stay in touch with us and let us know how we can help you! This program is full of kind, wonderful, caring people who are willing to help, whether it be staff or fellow students. So utilize our services and come join our family to move forward in accomplishing your educational dreams and goals!

Julie ~ Bobbie ~ Hannah ~ Lenny

Table of Contents

Mission of Student Support Services .................. ……………4

Contacting Staff .............................................................. 4

History of TRIO Programs & SSS ....................................... 5

Eligibility Requirements .................................................. 5

Getting Started ............................................................... 6

Website and Helpful Links ............................................... 6

Updating Info & Text Alerts .............................................. 6

Tutoring Services ............................................................. 7

SSS Activities/Services ..................................................... 8

Sign-up for Events .......................................................... 8

Cultural Events ................................................................ 8

Power Lunches ................................................................ 8

Workshops ..................................................................... 8

Community Service ......................................................... 8

Algebra Classes ............................................................... 9

Financial Aid Assistance ................................................... 9

SSS Grant Aid .................................................................. 9

Career Services ............................................................... 9

Mentors .......................................................................... 9

Transfer Assistance ....................................................... 10

Preferential Enrollment .................................................. 10

Libraries ........................................................................ 10

4

Mission of Student Support Services

Student Support Services is a federally-funded funded TRIO program committed to helping undergraduate students be successful at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College and to transfer to a four-year institution of higher education. The program facilitates participant success through proactive and intensive, individualized services. Student Support Services is dedicated to building a supportive network between students, campus and community. By capitalizing on the opportunities provided for personal and social growth while in a supportive environment, the participant can achieve success in learning, service, and leadership.

Student Support Service Contact Information

Julie Brixey Project Director 918.540.6263 julie.brixey@neo.edu

Hannah Berryman TRIO Administrative Assistant 918.540.6351 hannah.berryman@neo.edu

Bobbie Pennington Retention/Career Counselor 918.540.6353 bpennington@neo.edu

Lenny Windle Learning Specialist 918.540-6145 lwindle@neo.edu

History of TRIO Programs and Student Support Services

TRIO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students in their pursuit of a college degree. There are over 2,800 programs nationally that serve students from sixth grade through college graduation. The TRIO programs were the first national college access and retention programs to address the serious social and cultural barriers to education in America.

TRIO began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. The Educational Opportunity Act of 1964 established an experimental program known as Upward Bound. NEO received funding for an Upward Bound program in 1999 and serves our area high school population. In 1965, the Higher Education Act created Talent Search. Then in 1968, Student Support Services (SSS) was launched. This program came to NEO in 2001 and serves 160 eligible students each year.

By 1998, the TRIO programs had become a vital pipeline to opportunity, serving traditional students, displaced works and veterans. The original three programs had grown to nine, adding Educational Opportunity Centers and Veterans Upward Bound in 1972, Training Program for Federal TRIO programs in 1976, the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program in 1986, Upward Bound Math/Science in 1990 and the TRIO Dissemination Partnership in 1998.

For more information, just type TRIO Programs in your search engine and you should be able to find what you need.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for Student Support Services, students must be seeking a degree, enrolled full-time at NEO and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. Students must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

First Generation College Student (Neither parent has earned a four-

year Bachelor’s Degree)

Meet U.S. Department of Education Income Guidelines

Have a Documented Disability (on file with the NEO Student

Disability Office or can obtain documentation)

As mandated by Congress, two-thirds of the students served must come from families who meet income eligibility requirements and where neither parent graduated from college with a Bachelor’s Degree.

6

Getting Started

What is required to be in the SSS Program?

1) Complete Interview and Assessment Process. 2) Establish eligibility and academic need; set social, career and

academic goals; 3) Determine skill level in technology. 4) Complete academic & learning styles inventories. 5) Complete the In-Class on-line assessment 6) Attend 1 SSS sponsored activity. 7) Attend orientation session with the SSS Director.

SSS Helpful Links

SSS Website: http://www.neo.edu/sss

Facebook Link at www.facebook.com & search for NEO Student

Support Services

Monthly SSS Newsletter/Calendar available on SSS website. Check

for updates

Career Corner – Pinterest . . . http://pinterest.com/neosss/

The SSS Website contains links to many helpful websites that will aid in studying and searching for information about colleges and careers, financial literacy facts, technology tips and math links.

Update Your Address and Phone Number

It is your responsibility to update your address and phone number with the SSS program. To change contact information follow the steps below:

Send an e-mail to the Director

AND Log into NEO Web Product and update personal information.

Text Alerts

To receive text alerts, sign up for NEO Student Support Services Notifications either by e-mail or cell phone.

E-mail: neos@mail.remind101.com - Subject can be blank.

Cell Phone: Text to: 918.675.0055 - Message: @neos

Tutoring Services

Tutoring Request

A request for tutoring must be submitted to the Learning Specialist every semester.

Rules for Receiving Tutoring

Tutoring is available by request.

If you are unable to attend a scheduled tutoring session, please call our office at 918.540.6145 to cancel your appointment. (24 hour notice is preferred to continue receiving tutoring services.)

Tutor Qualifications

Tutors are hired each semester. Tutors can be scheduled up to 12 hours per week, depending on their availability.

Tutors will be required to attend a training session at the beginning of employment.

Group Tutoring

Group tutoring is available for subjects such as History, Science, and Psychology when requested.

Study Groups will be held before tests/finals, as needed.

Online Tutoring

Miami Public Library offers a free live tutoring site 24/7 at the following website:

http://www.tutor.com/libraries/products/college-students

Tutoring links for free websites are available on the SSS webpage, SSS D2L and SSS Facebook.

8

SSS Activities/Services

SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES

Sign-up sheets for activities or events are posted on the refrigerator in Ables Hall room 205. It is your responsibility to sign up for yourself. Trips are usually limited to 10 students. Text messages and emails are sent for upcoming events. So please check emails and sign up for text messaging through SSS!

CULTURAL EVENTS

Cultural events will be available for participants each year. Some may be on campus such as plays, demonstrations and guest lecturers, others will be off campus. College vehicles can be utilized to transport participants as a group, or you may elect to provide your own transportation. According to institutional policy only NEO students and sponsors can travel in college vehicles. While traveling, SSS will pay for transportation costs, a meal (or money) and admission tickets. It’s important that if you sign up for an event, you provide at least a 48 hour notice to cancel, so a replacement may be able to attend the event.

POWER LUNCHES

Free lunches are usually the first Wednesday and the third Thursday of each month from 12:00-12:50. Over the lunch hour, a speaker will provide a presentation on a specific topic. Past topics have included overcoming math anxiety, financial aid made easy, how to deal with difficult people, careers in the health field and cultures such as Greek, British, and Korean.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops are available 1-2 times a month. The topics vary and are geared toward improvement in areas of professional and personal growth. Warming up on academic skills, improving financial literacy, matching aptitude and personality to careers, and networking with campus personnel are objectives of the workshops offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Projects will be selected with input from the participants. The majority will be done as a group utilizing college transportation when required. Community Service may also be done on your own and you will be responsible for your own transportation. Prior approval from the staff will be required for community service to be counted toward grant aid. Leadership, decision-making, and organizing are some of the skills practiced in performing community service, along with increasing self-esteem, networking for future career contacts and gratification that comes from helping others.

ALGEBRA CLASSES

SSS participants are generally given the opportunity to take Algebra every day. This allows for the material to be covered at a manageable pace accompanied by less homework and more instruction. Intermediate Algebra is usually offered in the Fall semester and College Algebra is offered in the Spring semester in this 5 day format.

FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE

SSS Staff are available to assist participants with completing the FAFSA and also serve as liaison to the Financial Aid Office. A FAFSA workshop is held in the Spring to assist students with the application. Individual appointments can also be made.

SSS GRANT AID

SSS Grant Aid is awarded to a limited number of students to help reduce their need for loans and to encourage participation in activities provided by Student Support Services. To be eligible, a participant must have a Pell grant and have an unmet need determined by the Financial Aid Office. Additional criteria are on the Grant Aid form available in the SSS office.

The minimum grant aid award will be equal to or greater than the minimum amount awarded for Pell Grant. It’s the student’s responsibility to keep track of their form and to have staff sign off after each activity. Grant Aid is awarded on a limited basis and not all students completing the form and meeting the eligibility criteria will receive money.

CAREER SERVICES

Business Trips give an onsite look at multiple careers highlighted in area businesses and industries. These connections may open an employment opportunity after graduation.

“Unmask Your Career” is an event held during the Fall Semester where area professionals gather at SSS to answer questions about their careers.

Representatives from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields perform interactive activities related to their careers. This event is held during the Spring Semester

LinkedIn Profiles can be developed with the help of our Career/Retention Specialist.

MENTORS

Having a mentor in the career you are preparing for can be very beneficial when you begin looking for a job in your field. In addition to career mentors, other mentors are available to give extra support for those with few or no family members in the area.

10

TRANSFER ASSISTANCE

Transfer guides are available in the SSS area to help in monitoring which NEO courses transfer to the college of your interest. We can help you make connections to TRIO personnel and advisors in your field of study.

Transfer counselors from Oklahoma universities and those in close proximity will present at a Power Lunch usually held in the Spring. NEO also hosts a transfer fair generally in the Fall.

Students may also participate in transfer trips offered through SSS. There are generally 10 slots available for students to sign up and the sheet fills up pretty quickly. SSS tries to notify students by text message and email when activities are available.

PREFERENTIAL ENROLLMENT

SSS participants can enroll early but must first have an enrollment hold cleared by meeting with SSS staff to discuss their educational plans and classes in which they plan to enroll.

Specific math classes will be recommended. Having the same teacher

for a class will assist SSS in organizing tutoring and forming student study groups.

LIBRARIES

Instructional Materials are available for use. See the SSS Learning Specialist for help.

Math Solution Manuals may be used on site. A student ID will be kept while the manual is being used. It will remain in the SSS study lab. REMEMBER, checking your answers and figuring out the problems by using the manual are an effective technique to reinforce learning.

The Career Resources Library is available to participants and includes transfer information, career assessments and research information, as well as access to many helpful websites. Laptops are available for use in the computer lab which offers a place to study in a relaxed atmosphere.

We look forward to continuing to serve you!

SSS Calendar of Events ~ 2015 – 2016 Academic Year

Running Start ~ August 6th ~ 9 am – 2 pm

Power Lunches . . . . Noon

----- Lunch Provided -----

September 02 ~ SSS Kickoff

September 17~ Explore the World

October 7 ~ Recharge

October 30 ~ Unmask Your Career November 5 ~ Let’s Work Together November 18 ~ Transfer Fair December 4 ~ De-Stress with SSS (Potluck) January 20 ~ What’s in Your Wallet? February 3 ~ FAFSA for College February 18 ~ Dress for Success March 2~Reaching Out in Your Community March 25 ~ S.T.E.M. April 6 ~ College Reps April 21 ~ Honors Dinner @ 5:00

Financial Aid Days August 25, 2015 & January 26, 2016

Book Scholarship Fundraiser September 23rd ~ 11:00 to 1:00pm

Group Community Service A Day of Service - September 11

Brown Bag Workshops ~ 1 pm

September 10 ~ Whose Time is it Anyway? October 1 ~ Where’s the Money? October 12 ~ Borrow Wisely November 23~ Write the Right Paper February 11 ~ Filing your FAFSA March 10 ~ Dreaming Big March 29 ~ Transferring Successfully April 12 ~ Stretching Your Mind & Toes Cultural Event September 29th ~ Will Rogers Museum November 15 ~ A Christmas Story February 24 ~ TRIO Day/OKC Memorial Business Trips September 29th~Industrial Tour/ Pryor Other Business Trips TBA

Transfer Trips September 29th ~ RSU Claremore October 20th ~ OSU Stillwater March 4th ~ UCO Edmond

Dates and events are subject to change!