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| History & Purpose |
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| Student Support Services (SSS) has served the academic needs of students at Aquinas College for over 20 years. As a part of TRIO programs offering aid to disadvantaged students from middle school to graduate programs, SSS provides services to college students, which increase retention and graduation rates while fostering an institutional climate that supports participants. |
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| It is the goal of Student Support Services to assure student success, assisting participants with basic academic skills and technology information, moving towards critical writing skills and retention of concepts. This step-by-step process results in overall critical thinking skills and the ability to transfer learning from one course to another. A holistic approach is used to assist students in becoming well-rounded educated adults, prepared for graduate level study. |
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| Student Support Services responds to both eligible traditional-age students and continuing education students. Each September, a committee identifies and selects 160 eligible students. Several factors are used in the selection, including: |
- first-generation students (neither parent graduated from a 4-year college)
- students needing financial aid
- students with disabilities
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| Once selected, participants are invited to an orientation session for a thorough presentation of services and introduction to staff members. The Director assesses student needs, and individual support plans are monitored and reassessed as needed. |
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| Full-time professional staff specialists meet individually with students in the areas of Math, Reading, Study Skills, and Writing. Personal and career counseling is also provided through the SSS program. In addition, the SSS program refers students for help in specific course studies to the Peer Tutoring program offered out of the Academic & Learning Services Department. |
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| Students should call the Student Support Services Office at (616) 632-2165 to schedule an appointment with a specialist or with interim director Sarah Cox to learn more about the program. |
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