TRIO Student Support Services

There are three types of grants you may qualify for through the Student Support Services/TRIO program at the University of Mary:

New students accepted into TRIO/SSS are eligible for a book grant after completion of their first successful semester. Returning TRIO students maintaining satisfactory academic progress will receive a book grant in the fall and spring semester. Awards will be applied after the add/drop date.

General Satisfactory Academic Progress standards must be maintained to receive the book grant. Students must have completed the financial literacy requirement.

New students accepted into TRIO/SSS are eligible for a Merit Grant after completion of their first successful semester. Returning TRIO students earning the required GPA, and meeting program requirements will be eligible for a Merit Grant in the fall and spring semester. Awards will be applied after the add/drop date.

Merit Grant Requirements

• Students must have been in the TRIO program at least one semester.
• Students must have earned a 3.0-4.0 GPA the Spring/Fall semester prior
• Students must have completed a minimum of 67% of the credits they have attempted.
• Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits.
• Students must have met with their TRIO advisor a minimum of three (3) times during the semester.
• Students must have completed the financial literacy requirement.

The TRIO Director will notify the Financial Aid Office which students qualify for Book and Merit grants. The Financial Aid Office makes the final determination of eligibility and adjustments to a student's financial aid package. Students are personally responsible for verifying with the Financial Aid Office their possible eligibility and impact on their awards/costs. The Financial Aid Office has the authority to amend this policy at any time to comply with changes in institutional policy.

TRIO/Student Support Services provides its students the opportunity to apply for additional fall and spring grant aid through our program and federal grant aid money. If additional money is available, there may be the possibility of summer grant aid, as well.

TRIO students who have completed 60 credits or less, have earned a 2.0 GPA or higher, and who are receiving a Federal PELL grant, are eligible to apply for the supplemental grant aid. Amounts of awards vary. Money awarded will be determined by the number of students applying for the grant and need, as well as allowable award amounts. To qualify for the grant, in addition to the eligibility requirements, you must complete a grant application and a minimum 250 word, typed and double spaced, essay telling us why you should be selected for this grant and making a special note of how this grant could ease your risk of possibly dropping out of school. Applications and instructions for the grant will be emailed to current TRIO students the semester prior to the award.

Applications will be reviewed based on the Department of Education's criteria, previous semester's cumulative GPA, completion of program requirements, and your participation in the TRIO program.

*All awards must be verified with the financial aid office to ensure that you are not over awarded. Please let this serve as notice that although you may be chosen for a top award, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships determines the maximum number of grant dollars you may actually receive.