All first-year Illinois Eastern Community Colleges TRIO students and mentors met at Wabash Valley College for their first day of their two-day workshop, “Learning To Succeed” or “L2S.”
Each fall, prior to classes starting, the IECC TRIO Student Support Services program offers a two-day workshop entitled “Learning To Succeed” or “L2S.” The first day was held at Wabash Valley College and was for all TRIO SSS first-year students and the second-year mentors. TRIO SSS has a mentor program which is offered to second-year students who have excelled academically and also displayed leadership qualities to mentor first-year students.
Day 1 offered sessions on a variety of topics, including Cultural Diversity, Life Hacks (simple things to make life a little more convenient), and Healthy Relationships. TRIO Student Support Services believes that in order for a student to be successful, all areas of the students’ lives must be addressed. Lunch was provided at the Red Café with the students enjoying a free lunch. In fact, everything the program offers its’ students is free.
Day 2, held at OCC, offered information on Financial Literacy, Student Services such as Financial Aid, Retention, Career Services, and Single Parent program. There was a human rock, paper, scissors ice-breaker in the morning and a photo scavenger hunt in the afternoon. The TRIO program finds that students, through these various activities, have the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships that may never have happened without the program.
Some of the other services the TRIO program offers are academic advising, assistance in filing for financial aid and scholarships, transfer assistance, formal coursework in study skills and career exploration, and cultural experiences.
In order for a student to qualify to be in the TRIO SSS program, at least one of the following conditions must be met: The student must be first-generation college (neither parent received a 4-year college degree), income eligible, or have a disability which affects learning.
Applications for the 2016-17 academic year are still being accepted. Please contact the College and ask to speak to the TRIO representative.
