Trio SSS is taking a trip to Wisconsin to help students learn more about graduate school. 

Trio SSS is a federally funded program with the desire to help students form community and connections while also gaining experience in networking.

The acronym Trio SSS stands for student support services but the government gives universities the freedom to change the name if wanted.

“Trio student support services is a retention based program. We’re focused on students with disabilities, first generation students and low income students,” Jordan Jones, director of Trio SSS, said.

One upcoming plan to help students network and prepare for graduate school is a weekend trip to Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The trip will take place Sept. 24-26.

“We focus on academics, finances, graduate preparation and career preparation because all of those four things lead to students being prepared to be successful in the real world,” Jones said.

The organization currently has 132 students. They are funded to hold 140 students, and will most likely reach their cap in a few weeks. However, only 9 students will be taken on the trip to Wisconsin.

Those 9 students will be hearing presentations from former and current graduate students. They will also receive experience in graduate interviews and have opportunities to apply to graduate school while they are there.

“Our focus this year is intentional engagement and building community at ACU” Jones said.

Due to COVID, the organization did not have as many opportunities last year to travel or do things together as a large community group, so Trio is excited to have more community. 

“Trio made me feel more confident coming into college-it brought me a community,” Jasmine Walker, freshman nursing major from Plano, said.

Trio SSS has plans to have four more seminars this semester on a smaller scale, but they have several community based plans in place to help Trio members at ACU.