The Student Support Services (SSS) Scholars Academy
The Student Support Services (SSS) Scholar Academy is designed to empower students and help them achieve academic excellence. The SSS Scholars Academy assists students in identifying their academic short-term and long-term goals, and supports their effort. Students accepted into the SSS Scholars Academy receive proactive academic support services geared towards giving them the tools to succeed at UC Berkeley and beyond. The emphasis is on individual assessment, advising, counseling, and skill-building. The SSS Scholar Academy is a part of the Academic Achievement Programs (AAP). Within SSS, a smaller cohort of first and second undergraduates receives a small amount of Pell grant funds to offset their student loans.
Eligibility
AAP serves first-generation college students (students who do not have a parent who has graduated from a four year university of college) and whose income falls within U.S. Department of Education guidelines. Click here for U.S. Department of Education guidelines. APP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education/U.C. Berkeley Division of Undergraduate Education, and is overseen by the Assistant Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.
Program Benefits
- Assessment of academic need
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Scholarship searches
- Course planning assistance
- Academic advising and personal counseling
- Introduction to undergraduate research programs, internships, and study abroad programs
- Help in selecting and applying for graduate or professional schools
- Networking opportunities with faculty, staff, and representatives from undergraduate research, graduate, and professional school programs
- Student professional development series
- Individual general, pre-graduate, and career advising
- Credit bearing AAP courses
- Leadership and community service opportunities
- Individual and group tutoring
- Mentoring from faculty and advanced SSS Scholars.
- Attendance at cultural events and performances
- Computer lab
- Student Lounge
Applications
There are two cycles for SSS recruitment. The Fall 2009 cycle for the SSS scholar’s supplemental Pell grants will begin in November, 2009. The fall SSS program application due date is November 14, 2009.
The UC Berkeley Student Support Services Program is funded by the US Department of Education as part of the Federal TRIO program, and is sponsored on the Berkeley campus by the Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, Gibor Basri, Ph.D. and the Assistant Vice Provsot for Undergraduate Education, Barbara G. Davis, Ph.D.