TRIO Student Support Services / STEM

TRIO provides assistance to students who are new or unfamiliar with the college system. Our activities are designed to increase students’ academic success at GHC and assist in transfer to four-year schools.

About TRIO     A picture of two students talking to each other                                  

TRIO is a federally funded program that works with 280 students each year. This gives the TRIO staff the time to get to know you and find out how we can help.

What does TRIO do?

The most important thing that TRIO does is Process Education, teaching students how to be successful in the college environment. There are many excellent faculty here who teach specific academic material, but TRIO teaches students how to make it through college!

Along with teaching students how to be successful in college, we offer:

  • Academic assistance
  • Book Loan
  • Laptop Loan
  • Tutoring
  • Transfer planning
  • College catalogs and materials
  • Long term academic planning
  • College visits/tours
  • Scholarship writing
  • FAFSA completion
  • Learning style assessment
  • College transfer strategy
  • Contact with college recruiters
  • Provide workshops designed to help you succeed
  • Cultural and education events
  • Sense of Belonging

This all comes together in the development of a Master Achievement Plan, where you outline your path to success and we help you meet your goals.

Getting Started

We look at a few things to get you started; are you eligible, do you have need, and do you want to complete a four-year degree.

Eligibility

  1. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  2. Currently enrolled or accepted to Grays Harbor College.
  3. Meet one or more of the following criteria:
    • A first-generation college student (neither parent has received a four-year degree).
    • Income eligible based on federal standards, if you receive a Pell Grant you may qualify.
    • Receiving services from AccessAbility Services (formerly Disability Support Services).
  4. Have not received an Associate or Bachelor Degree
  5. Have an academic need and be motivated to complete an Associate’s degree from Grays Harbor College.
  6. Will pursue a four-year degree.

Next Steps

We sit down and get to know your plans here at the college. We want to hear about the areas we could be helpful. That could be academics, career planning, or academic planning. During this conversation we look at your school experience and your goals for the future. We want to see what areas we can help with. Either way, we can help!

Located on the 1st floor of the Spellman Building (1500) in room 1512. Our hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday. You can also call us at 360-538-2537.

TRIO Staff

Michelle Roos

Michelle Roos

TRIO Program Coordinator Michelle Roos is not only a proud GHC alum, but has worked at the college for 32 years and has seen and helped countless students passing through the college’s doors. To Michelle “There is nothing more satisfying than watching students grow, excel and reach their dreams.” She lists crafting - or at least buying lots of craft supplies – as a hobby as well as a love of tap dancing. In the category of things that others might not know about her, Michelle reveals that her dog Buckley runs the show at home!

Kenji Seta

Kenji Seta

Student Support Specialist Kenji Seta started at GHC at a part-time math instructor as well as working on several years as the coordinator of the GHC Learning Center before joining the TRIO staff. Before that, he spent 20 Years in the Air Force as a radar operator, seven years at Home Depot and teaching engineering classes, but lists his job in TRIO as his most rewarding yet. Along the way he has earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering, his MS in management and is now a doctoral candidate in education at the University of Washington - Tacoma. He’s circumnavigated the globe and lists his Bacon Number as an impressive 3. 

Dave Brown

Dave Brown

Student Support Specialist Dave Brown has worked in higher education and human services for most of his career, including serving as a career counselor, internship coordinator, a director of corporate and foundation relations and grant writer after working in the TRIO Upward Bound program at Western Washington University (WWU) program following graduation there with degrees in music and college student services. His favorite part of his TRIO job is seeing his students graduate and successfully enter the world of work or pursue further education with the help of scholarships and other aid. His hobbies include supporting his favorite soccer team, Newcastle United, and admiring his wife who speaks four languages fluently, is a math and music whiz and the handy-person of their household.

 

Shelly Hoffman