Successful Vermilion Community College Retention Tools

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In response to the four legislative intents of TRiO Student Support Services, the Vermilion Community College TRiO SSS project works collaboratively with other campus departments to 1) increase college retention and graduation rates, 2) increase transfer rates to four-year institutions, 3) foster a supportive climate for student success, and 4) improve student financial and economic literacy.

The TRiO SSS department first began the GYST (Get Your Stuff Together) incentive program in Spring Semester 2004 to encourage TRiO students to prepare early for returning the next year. GYST is a collaborative, eight week campus-wide activity where students complete a checklist of necessary steps required for the next fall semester in the areas of housing, registration, and financial aid/payment options or graduation, transfer, or other reason for not returning. Students that complete their checklists by a designated date are eligible to win over $3000 of fabulous prizes donated by staff, faculty and local businesses at the GYST Fest in April.

A successful spring retention tool has been awarding SSS Supplemental Grant Aid to students who receive a Pell grant, are in good academic standing and receive at least a 2.0 GPA for fall semester. TRiO has awarded $13,000 in spring 2010 grant aid and will be awarding additional $9,000 grant aid to students with 2nd half semester and summer classes. As a requirement to applying for the grant aid TRiO SSS has implemented a series of Money Management Seminars students are required to attend. The seminars are designed to provide financial and economic literacy education, particularly in debt, savings, and credit. In addition to attending the workshops, students are required to write an essay of how receiving the grant aid will help them meet their long term educational goals.  Grant aid helps students meet their unmet financial needs and reduce loan debt.

TRiO SSS staff also work with the VCC Foundation Director in offering Scholarship Writing Workshops to encourage our students to apply for the many scholarships made available through the foundation. Workshops are offered to aid our students in the application process and assist them in completing their application professionally. Many TRiO students have been awarded faculty scholarships chosen by faculty specifically for their positive educational accomplishments at VCC.

These programs fulfill legislative required services of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) to improve student financial/economic literacy. The programs in place become stronger each year and have proven to have a very positive impact on our students.