Purpose:          

 Student Support Services is designed to provide academic assistance to increase the retention and graduation rates of eligible students and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of low-income and first generation college students and individuals with disabilities through various services.

 Description:

 Student Support Services is a federally funded college academic support and retention program that will identify and serve 175 eligible Savannah State University students. The program staff includes a Project Director, Program Coordinator, Program Specialist/Technical Assistant, Academic Specialists and several Program Tutors/Peer Mentors

 Eligibility:

 A student is eligible to participate in a Student Support Services Project if the student meets all of the following requirements: (a) is a citizen of national of the United States or meets the residency requirements for Federal student financial assistance (b) is enrolled at SSU or accepted for enrollment in the next academic term (c) has a need for academic support  (d) is a low-income individual—a first generation college student—or is an individual with disabilities

 Program Services Offered:

 Supplemental Instructions—Personal Advisement—Academic Suggestions—Professional/Peer Tutorial Services—Exposure to cultural events and academic programs not usually available to disadvantaged students—Activities: Career Options; Assistance for enrollment in graduate and professional programs—Mentoring involving faculty, upper class students—Other activities designed to meet the purpose of the Student Support Services Program

 Participant Eligibility for Grant Aid:

 To receive SSS program grant aid, students must be current participants in the SSS project who are in their first two years of postsecondary education and receiving Federal Pell Grants.  Grant aid may be offered to students who have completed their first two years of postsecondary education and are receiving Federal Pell Grants if the Program Director demonstrates that these students are at high risk of dropping out and it has first met the needs of all its eligible first and second-year students.