Student Support Services

Welcome to the Student Support Services page!

Feel free to browse through the different pages on the right (--->) to learn about who we serve, what we do, and the results of our program.

This home page is here to keep you informed about what is going on currently with TRiO SSS at CSUMB, and will be updated regularly. If there is any information that you are looking for and don't find on our various pages (--->), please don't hesitate to call us at (831)582-4451.

 

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TRiO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY MONTEREY BAY: KEEPING YOU POSTED

 

MONDAY - February 4, 2013

February is a Month of Service for TRiO Programs

This month, TRiO Programs across the nation are preparing to celebrate National TRiO Day. TRiO Day is a National Day of Service in which TRiO Programs participate in community service in order to give back to the community that supports these programs. According to the 1986 Congressional Resolution, National TRiO Day has as its purpose to focus the nation's "attention on the needs of disadvantaged young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives, to the necessary investment if they are to become contributing citizens of the country, and to the talent which will be wasted if that investment is not made".

It is for this reason that TRiO Student Support Services has decided to run a toiletry drive. Throughout the month of February, we will be collecting items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, hair care products, showering items, hygiene products, tissues and toilet paper to donate to a great organization: Dorothy's Place. Dorothy's Place is a non-profit organization that runs various programs such as Dorothy's Kitchen, St. Clare's Corner, Youth Alive!, Women Alive!, and others. These programs provide services to disadvantaged men, women, and children where they can get meals, clothing, health services, items like toiletries and household goods, and shelter.

If you would like to help TRiO Student Support Services in our efforts, you can donate items at the following locations from February 8th to February 22nd:

• Alumni & Visitor's Center (AVC)
• Student Center
• Student Services Building (47)
• Health Center
• Peet's Coffee (Library)
• DIning Commons

We will be donating all collected items to Dorothy's Place on Saturday, February 23rd, which is the official National TRiO Day. If you are interested in volunteering with us on this day, please contact Chloe English at (831)582-4451 or cenglish@csumb.edu.

For more information about the way CSUMB TRiO Programs are celebrating National TRiO Day, check out this article on the CSUMB Website: Students Celebrate TRiO Day with Service Projects

 

WEDNESDAY - December 19, 2012

An Evening of Enchantment at the Nutcracker Ballet

On Friday, December 14, students of the SSS program were able to have an evening of experience in local Carmel, CA. The night began with a nice dinner at Lalla Grill located at the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the semester and bring in the Holiday joy.

From there, students were taken to see a performance of the Nutcracker at the Sunset Center in Carmel. This well-known ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the plot remains the same: it is the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and his fierce battle against a mouse king with seven heads. When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a well-known French author. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.

This was a memorable event for students, some of which were attending a ballet for their first time.

 

FRIDAY - October 19, 2012

Happy and Healthy at Earthbound Farm

We just spent the day at the Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, CA. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were able to spend it surrounded by nature. Our tour was led by Special Events Manager Janna Jo Williams who taught us all about the history of Earthbound Farms, the process of organic farming, why eating organic is important, and so much more.

Executive Chef Sarah LaCasse provided a cooking demonstration and a delicious and healthy lunch for us all to enjoy. It was an enlightening experience, both mentally and physically, as many of us noted how much better we felt after eating the organic lunch Earthbound Farms provided than we would have after eating an unhealthy alternative.

From the interesting history behind Earthbound Farm and the gracious hosts who made our day so special, to the perfectly sweet raspberries we picked and fragrant herbs we smelled and tasted, the day was one to remember. Thank you Janna Jo and Sarah and the rest of Earthbound Farm for an informational, educational, and most importantly, fun experience!

 

TUESDAY - September 4, 2012

Welcome and Welcome Back!

This past week was a whirlwind of events and it was great to see our students and meet some new faces! For those of you who have just become a part of Student Support Services, welcome to the family!

We have four fantastic new peer mentors that are here to help our students with any and every question they may have. We asked them to answer a few questions of our own:

Guadalupe Arias

Student Level: 5th year

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Major: Human Communication (Chicana/o Studies)

Advice for new students @ CSUMB: Study Abroad!

 

Jessica Garcia De Paz

Student Level: 5th year senior

Hometown: Seaside, California

Major: Business

Advice for new students @ CSUMB: Stay healthy, do your best and GO OTTERS!!

 

Stephanie Solorio

Student Level: Junior

Hometown: Hollister, CA

Major: Collaborative Health & Human Services

Advice for new students @ CSUMB: Don’t be afraid to get involved in anything on campus. Be outgoing and mingle around with students. Make college your lifetime experience. Remember it's what you make of it.

 

Conrad Torres

Student Level: Senior

Hometown: Bakersfield, CA

Major: Social Behavior Science

Advice for new students @ CSUMB: Stay positive, get involved, make friends with new people constantly, beware or comfort zones (i.e. sitting in back of the class, same people you hang out with, and not speaking up), take responsibility for yourself, and last but not least: always strive to keep learning.

 

We had our "Welcome Back" event for SSS Students on August 29th on the Main Quad. The Chef was grilling up burgers and hot dogs and we had the chance to reunite with the students after a summer away from school. Luckily - the weather was perfect for the occasion!

 

TUESDAY - June 19, 2012

Summer Planning and SSS Applications

School is out for summer, but for the staff here at TRiO SSS, it is anything but a vacation! We are busy planning for next semester and receiving and reviewing applications. (If you are interested in applying to be a participant of SSS, click here for a PDF of the Fall 2012 Application).

The eligibility requirements are as follows (you must be one of the three listed):

• Low-Income

• First-Generation

• Documented Disability (physical or learning)

If you have a moment to look through this website, you can really get a good feel for the work we do to meet our goal: to ensure student success. We see success as multi-faceted. Success, especially in college, is not just academic, but also personal, financial, cultural, spiritual, and emotional. Our mission is to help students achieve their maximum potential in every way. To do this, TRiO Student Support Services offers students help with course selection and individual advising, as well as providing workshops about economic and emotional literacy, study skills, scholarship information, graduate school exploration and various other topics that are crucial to success in college. Because we know that academic success has so many different aspects, we also offer cultural enrichment activities and events. In the past, these have included trips to Alcatraz in San Francisco, Whale Watching in Monterey, Kayaking in Moss Landing, Graduate School Forums, Senior Celebrations, out-of-state Graduate School Tours, trips to museums and theaters, and many other trips that encourage students to come out of their shell and experience something new. Check out some of the student feedback here.

 

MONDAY - June 11, 2012

Graduate School Tour of Chicago

Just got back from the Graduate School Tour of Chicago, IL and the students and staff had an amazing time. They visited three Graduate Schools: Northeastern Illinois University, Loyola University Chicago, and The University of Chicago. The schools were so different and it was great for the students to see that they have different options in their journey towards Graduate School. Big or small? Public or private? At each of the Universities, the hosts were so gracious and gave our students the opportunity to meet with faculty and advisors, as well as with graduate students in their program of interest. It was a learning experience of a lifetime and our students gained knowledge they wouldn't have been able to get from looking at a website. They also got to experience the city of Chicago and all it has to offer - they went to Skydeck Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, John Hancock Observatory, and the Field Museum. It was a busy three days! To read about their experiences, check out our Graduate School Exploration page!

It was an informational and successful trip, and we are so excited that our students were able to get their questions answered about going to Graduate School. Even if you come from a disadvantaged background, the doors are not closed to you in education. It is just about finding the right resources, and that is what TRiO Student Support Services is all about.