Welcome

Do you need help getting through college? You are in the right place!

The goal of TRIO-Student Support Services is to help you achieve success. By joining our program you will have access to exclusive services that include one-on-one tutoring and your very own Academic Advisor/Life Skills Counselor. Your Counselor can work with you on anything you need help with, including class schedules, degree plans, career choices, financial aid, transferring to a university and any social or personal issue that impacts your college success. We will do whatever we can to help you succeed. We want to be your “family” on campus!

Students served by TRIO-Student Support Services must have an academic need* and meet at least one of the following three criteria:

 

  • First Generation College Student: a student whose parents have not received a four-year college degree.
  • Low Income: a student whose family income does not exceed 150% of the national poverty level according to current year tax returns (e.g. receive Financial Aid).
  • Disability: a physical or learning disability which requires special accommodations for you to succeed academically.

* Evidence of academic need is determined by TRIO-Student Support Services during the student’s application process. Academic need may include having a high school equivalency, low high school or college GPA, low ACT or SAT scores, low diagnostic scores on the College Placement Test (CPT), failing grades, or out of school for more than 5 years.

Services Provided

TRiO-Student Support Services offers an array of services to assist you in meeting your academic goals.

Advising and Counseling

  • Academic advising
  • Career counseling
  • Financial aid counseling
  • Personal counseling
  • Transfer counseling

College Visits

  • Four-year college campus visits during spring and fall semesters
  • Fall visit usually to Florida State University (FSU)
  • Spring visits usually to University of South Alabama (USA) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)

Computer Access

  • 10 computers available for student use

Cultural Field Trips

  • Broader life experiences can contribute to college success
  • Field trips are free
  • Past trips include Bellingrath Gardens, Gulf Coast Exploreum, Wildlife Sanctuary, USS Alabama, and the Mobile Museum of Art

Grant Aid

  • Active TRiO-SSS Pell Grant funded students can apply for an additional $500 per semester
  • Maximum amount of $3,000 may be given while at PSC

Educational Resources

  • Variety of videos aimed at student success includes study skills, test taking, stress management, time management, resume writing, interview skills, healthy relationships.
  • For additional resources, please wait for the next source.

Peer Coaching

  • Support and encouragement provided
  • Practical assistance offered, such as with scholarship searches

TRiO-SSS Learning Lab Peer Tutoring

  • Assistance with most general studies subjects
  • Assistance with other subjects in which there is a high demand
  • Individual and group tutoring

How To Apply

For New Students

Student Contract Requirements

Students must have a signed TRIO-Student Support Services Program Participant Contract form (provided during Orientation) on file in the TRIO SSS office.

Students must meet these four requirements each semester to stay active in the TRiO-Student Support Services program.

  1. Tutoring Lab Attendance
    Students must visit the TRiO-Student Support Services Tutoring Lab at least twice each term during the semester.
  2. Advisor Meetings
    Students must meet with their advisor at least twice each semester:
    James Blackwell 850-484-2086
    Lindsey Pieknik 850-484-1858
  3. Cultural Event Field Trip Participation
    TRiO-Student Support Services hosts two cultural event field trips and one college campus visit each fall and spring semester. Students should attempt to participate in one of these scheduled events each semester. Students who are unable to join a scheduled event may choose from the alternate choices list below. After the activity is completed, students should fill out the Cultural Event Activity Form.

Activities that count for the academic year:

Money Matters:

Activities that count for one term:

CashCourse:

  • Go to cashcourse.org and register (if first-time user) or log-on
  • Select “financial tools” from left hand menu
  • Select “COURSEWORK” from top of menu that pops up
  • Choose a coursework topic that you haven’t previously done
  • Complete the Coursework section
  • Print a copy of the last page showing completion of the activity or the email sent to you by CashCourse to confirm your score
  • Complete a Financial Literacy Activity Evaluation and attach the printouts confirming completion

MoneySmart:

Money Management DVD:

  • Available to watch in the TRiO-Student Support Services office
  • Students may only watch DVD one time for credit as a Financial Literacy Activity
  • Complete Financial Literacy Activity Evaluation

Welcome to TRiO-Student Support Services at Pensacola State College!

  • You are now part of TRiO, a grant that services 2000 programs with 780,000 students nationwide
  • TRiO-SSS is a federally funded program instituted for students who are first-generation, low-income, or disabled
  • Pensacola State College serves about 225 students a semester.

The online orientation will review the services we offer and explain the minimum requirements you must fulfill to be an active participant in our program. You should have been given a packet of information about TRiO-Student Support Services. Please have this in front of you as the orientation will discuss this as well as other important information.

To begin online orientation, please play the video below.

We Are Here To Help

CONTACT US

Located on the
Pensacola Campus,
Building 6, Room 620.

Phone : (850) 484-2028
Fax : (850) 484-2032

decorative image of Rachelle-2 , TRIO | Student Support Services 2019-07-31 15:03:28
Rachelle Burns, Director
484-1817

rburns@pensacolastate.edu

Ms. Rachelle Burns began working for the TRIO-Student Support Services program in 2005, after previously working at PSC as a Career Specialist.  Ms. Burns is PSC’s Crisis Referral Coordinator and helps to coordinate the Pirates CARE project, including PSC’s suicide protocol, suicide prevention gatekeeper training and CARE Team. She has been involved in PSC’s Money Matters project since its inception in 2010. She has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.

decorative image of James-2 , TRIO | Student Support Services 2019-07-31 15:02:58
James Blackwell, Academic Advisor/Life Skills Coach

484-2086

jblackwell@pensacolastate.edu

Mr. James Blackwell has worked in TRiO-Student Support Services since 2007. He previously worked in other positions at Pensacola State College, including at the TRiO Educational Opportunity Center, the Career and Technical Education Center and the New Student Information Center. He has a Master’s degree in College Counseling & Student Personnel from the University of Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

decorative image of Linds-4-2 , TRIO | Student Support Services 2019-08-01 10:32:04
Lindsey Pieknik, Academic Advisor/Life Skills Coach

Ms. Lindsey Pieknik began working for the TRIO Student Support Services program in 2018. Prior to joining the TRIO SSS team, she worked in the healthcare industry as a phlebotomist. She previously managed a learning success center for a proprietary college and provided counseling and tutoring services to students in need. She has five years of teaching experience in subjects such as communications, public speaking, English, literature, professionalism, keyboarding, and learning frameworks.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Leadership Communication, both from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL.

decorative image of Penny-2 , TRIO | Student Support Services 2019-07-31 15:01:54
Penny Taylor, Recruitment/Retention Specialist

484-2046

ptaylor@pensacolastate.edu

Ms. Penny Taylor has worked in TRiO-Student Support Services since 2007.  Previously she worked in administrative support in both Advising and Career and Technical Education Student Resources. She is both a PSC and TRiO-Student Support Services alumna, graduating with an A.A. in Psychology in 2005.  She graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from the University of West Florida in August 2015.

Ingrid Davis, Lab Supervisor

484-1099

idavis@pensacolastate.edu

Ms. Davis began working for TRIO Student Support Services/Veteran Student Support Services program in September of 2021. Ms. Davis’s career began at Pensacola State College in July of 2015 as the Recruitment and Retention Specialist for the Veterans Upward Bound program. She has an Associate of Applied Science in Health Services Management from Pensacola Junior College in 2002. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Resource Management from Troy University in 2012. Ms. Davis earned her Masters’ degree in Higher Education Leadership and Administration with a specialization in Community Colleges from Capella University in the Fall of 2021. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Capella University. She is an active member of the Pensacola State College AFC (Association of Florida Colleges) Chapter as the Legislative Rep (Elect). Ingrid is also active with several Standing Committees here on campus as well.

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