Student Support Services
"Here I am in my last few days at North Arkansas College before I graduate with my associates degree! I am certain that it was because of the continual support from TRIO SSS that I was able to persevere and work towards my goals. I cannot tell you enough how much of an impact SSS is making in students' lives." - Abigail Dye, SSS Student
TRIO-Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) is a federally-funded student success program that works. Nationally and at Northark, TRIO-SSS participants consistently accomplish their educational goals at higher rates than non-participants.
Services
TRIO-SSS participants get these services and more:
- Advising including information about majors, course selection and career counseling
- Tutoring, both face to face and online
- Scholarships totaling $5,000 awarded each spring to two or three outstanding TRIO-SSS participants
- Eligibility to apply for state and regional TRIO scholarships
- Transfer assistance
- Financial aid information and application assistance
- Personal finance and college funding training
- Equipment lending
- Free on-campus printing
- Student activity group with leadership and service opportunities
- Workshops, several with lunch served
- Trips to university campuses and cultural attractions
- Textbook lending library supported by the TRIO-SSS student activity group
- Mentoring
Eligibility
About 75% of Northark students potentially qualify for TRIO-SSS, but the project is limited to serving only 200 participants.
You are eligible for TRIO-SSS if AT LEAST ONE of these things is true:
- Neither of your parents received a bachelor’s degree before you were 18
- OR you have a documented disability
- OR you have a low income, according to the federal definition of a low income
TRIO Current Year Low-Income Levels
| Size of Family Unit | 48 Contiguous States, D.C., Outlying Jurisdictions |
| 1 | Maximum income - $20,385 |
| 2 | Maximum income - $27,465 |
| 3 | Maximum income - $34,545 |
| 4 | Maximum income - $41,625 |
| 5 | Maximum income - $48,750 |
| 6 | Maximum income - $55,785 |
| 7 | Maximum income - $62,865 |
| 8 | Maximum income - $69,945 |
* Effective as of Jan. 12, 2022
For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $6,810 for the 48 contiguous states.
And ALL of these things are true:
- You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- AND you are majoring in any AA, AS, AGS, or AAS degree plan
- AND you have an academic need:
- Test scores below ACT recommended levels
- Been out of school for 5 years or more
- Low high school or previous college grades
- Received a GED
- Need to raise grades for program acceptance or transfer
- History of withdrawals and/or repeated courses
- Other predictive indicators
How Do You Become One of the TRIO-SSS 200 Participants
Fill out a TRIO-SSS application (to receive an application, visit the TRIO-SSS office in M185), call 870-391-3314, email rose.sims@northark.edu, or ask any Northark advisor). After that, just watch your Northark email for a notification from us.
TRIO-Student Support Services is funded by a grant to North Arkansas College from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $334,745 annually through August 31, 2022.
