TRIO Student Support Services

Removing Barriers. Empowering Students.

TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) at the University of North Alabama is a federally funded program designed to help participating students successfully complete their undergraduate education.

At the heart of UNA TRIO SSS is a commitment to creating a student-centered community of support that empowers students to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals. The program offers individualized and holistic support designed to build confidence and resilience because every student deserves the support to succeed.

UNA’s TRIO SSS program provides comprehensive academic support for students who are first-generation, demonstrate economic need, and/or have a documented disability. Through academic coaching, tutoring, career planning, financial literacy, personal support, leadership development, and cultural enrichment opportunities, TRIO SSS promotes student retention, graduation, and long-term success.

Who TRIO SSS Serves

TRIO SSS supports UNA students who are working toward completing their undergraduate education and meet program eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, students must:

Be a citizen or national of the United States or meet residency requirements for federal student financial assistance
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in the next academic term at the University of North Alabama
Have a need for academic support, as determined by UNA

Students must also meet at least one of the following qualifications:

Be a first-generation college student
Have a documented disability and be registered with UNA Disability Support Services
Demonstrate economic need based on household taxable income

Academic need may include factors such as ACT/SAT scores, high school GPA, placement in certain math or English courses, current course performance, returning adult student status, feeling underprepared for college-level coursework, needing help determining career or educational goals, needing support in major or required courses, or being in danger of losing a scholarship due to academic performance.

Program Expectations

TRIO SSS participants are active members of a supportive academic community. Expectations may vary based on a student’s Individual Academic Success Plan and classification, but active participants are generally expected to:

Attend at least one TRIO event and/or workshop each semester
Attend at least one advising session with a TRIO advisor each semester
Attend all scheduled classes and regularly log in to Canvas for online courses
Read and respond to TRIO emails and messages in a timely manner
Work with a TRIO advisor to develop an Individual Academic Success Plan
Contact TRIO staff before making enrollment changes, such as dropping from full-time to part-time status or withdrawing from UNA
Join the UNA TRIO SSS Canvas Course and the UNA TRIO Student Support Services GroupMe

Virtual workshops may be available through Canvas to accommodate students who cannot attend in-person events or workshops. Advising sessions may be held in person, by phone, or through video chat.

Academic Support

TRIO SSS provides academic support designed to help students build the skills, habits, and confidence needed for college success.

Academic support services include:

Success coaching
Peer tutoring
Supplemental advising
Academic workshops
Individual Academic Success Plans
Support with learning strategies, time management, organization, self-regulation, and self-efficacy

Peer tutors provide subject-area knowledge and academic guidance while modeling the strategies, attitudes, and behaviors of successful learners. Tutoring may include reviewing class material, discussing course texts, reviewing test questions, assisting with papers, or working through solutions to academic problems.

TRIO SSS workshops also help students meet collegiate expectations for personal, professional, and academic performance. Workshop topics may include test-taking skills, note-taking skills, memory skills, time management, and writing.

Personal Support

TRIO SSS recognizes that student success includes more than academics. Through success coaching, life coaching, and regular check-ins, students have access to support that can help them navigate college life, personal challenges, and transitions.

Life coaching offers a confidential, judgment-free space where students can talk with someone about challenges that may be personal or academic. Topics may include:

Issues with classes
Family struggles
Difficult friendships
Loss of a loved one
Ending relationships
Money problems
Health issues
Lack of motivation
Personal concerns

Students can schedule a life coaching session by making an appointment with a TRIO staff member.

Career Planning

UNA’s TRIO SSS program supports students as they pursue career and graduate school goals. TRIO SSS offers Career Planning and Graduate School Application workshops each semester, as well as one-on-one opportunities to meet with TRIO or UNA staff about career and graduate school goals.

Career planning support may include:

Exploring career interests
Preparing for graduate school
Identifying next steps toward academic and professional goals
Connecting with UNA career and graduate admissions resources

Students interested in individual career planning support should contact a TRIO staff member.

Financial Literacy

TRIO SSS offers financial literacy support to help students understand the financial aid process and build important money management skills.

Financial literacy support may include:

Online modules
In-person workshops
Financial aid process guidance
Review of student financial aid packages with professional staff
Referrals to the UNA Office of Student Financial Aid when additional support is needed

These resources are designed to help students strengthen their financial knowledge and make informed decisions throughout their UNA experience.

Events

TRIO SSS offers a variety of events each semester to support students’ academic, personal, cultural, and professional enrichment.

TRIO events and workshops help students connect with peers, build skills, explore opportunities, and stay engaged with the program. Events are subject to change, and students are encouraged to check the TRIO calendar, Campus Groups, and TRIO communications regularly for updates.

Students who want to attend TRIO events should RSVP and reserve their spot through Campus Groups.

Summer Bridge Program

Every summer, UNA TRIO SSS hosts Summer Bridge, a dynamic program designed to help new students transition from high school to college with confidence. Created with the experiences of first-generation students, students with limited income, and students with disabilities in mind, Summer Bridge offers a supportive space to learn, connect, and start strong at UNA.

The 2026 Summer Bridge Program is scheduled for July 13–15, 2026. Registration ends June 17, 2026.

UNA note: Will be needed to be updated annually

Summer Bridge begins in the morning at UNA’s Collier Library and ends with an overnight stay at Bear Creek Collaborative. TRIO SSS covers lodging, meals during the program, transportation for scheduled activities, and program materials and supplies.

Students can expect:

Academic workshops
Campus resource introductions
Team-building activities
Social events
Campus and community orientation
Connections with faculty, staff, and peers
Outdoor learning and relationship-building experiences at Bear Creek Collaborative

Students with dietary restrictions, allergies, medical needs, or accessibility accommodations should note those needs on the Summer Bridge application.

TRIO Trips

TRIO SSS provides students with opportunities to participate in cultural and educational trips that extend learning beyond the classroom. These experiences help students build community, explore new places, connect academic learning to real-world experiences, and expand their understanding of the world around them.

Past TRIO trip opportunities have included educational and cultural enrichment experiences such as Washington, D.C., and Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Leadership Opportunities

TRIO SSS offers several ways for students to build leadership skills through campus and community involvement.

TRIO Leadership RSO

The TRIO Leadership Organization is a Registered Student Organization dedicated to building community and positive relationships among UNA students. The organization creates awareness of barriers students may face as first-generation students, students who demonstrate economic need, and students who may have a disability.

TRIO Leadership supports students on their path to graduation while providing opportunities for leadership development, community service, and student engagement.

TRIO Ambassador Program

The TRIO SSS Student Ambassador Program is for SSS participants who want to develop leadership skills and have a voice in shaping TRIO services. Ambassadors represent the TRIO SSS student population and share student perspectives and recommendations for workshops, cultural and educational events, and other activities that support academic success and independence.

Students who participate in the Ambassador Program can gain valuable communication, planning, and implementation skills that support future academic, professional, and community leadership.

Service Learning

TRIO SSS and its leadership organizations also offer service learning opportunities that allow students to give back to the campus and local community. Opportunities may include initiatives such as campus support drives or volunteer projects with local organizations.

Cultural and Educational Exploration

TRIO SSS believes a well-rounded education does not exist only within the walls of a traditional classroom. Cultural and educational exploration gives students unique learning opportunities that can shape their perspectives, spark curiosity, and connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.

TRIO SSS seeks to extend student learning environments on a local, state, national, and international level through cultural trips, exploratory learning labs, and educational enrichment experiences.

Faculty and Staff Referrals

Faculty and staff can help connect eligible students with TRIO SSS resources. Students may be eligible for TRIO SSS if they demonstrate economic need, are first-generation college students, or are registered with UNA Disability Support Services.

Faculty and staff who know students who may benefit from TRIO SSS support are encouraged to refer them to the program.

Contact Information

TRIO Student Support Services
2nd Floor, Collier Library
UNA Box 5041
Florence, AL 35632-0001
256-765-5168
trio@una.edu

Ms. Autumn S. Terry, LMSW
Program Director
aterry4@una.edu

Ms. Katie Austin
Academic Coordinator
kaustin4@una.edu

Mrs. Enid Flores
Program Assistant
eflores@una.edu