TRIO-SSS STUDENT SUCCESS COURSES

 

The TRIO-SSS Students Success courses are designed to ease the transition to college by providing technological and academic skills, as well as knowledge of resources and the information necessary to be successful students at Oregon State and productive citizens. In these classes students will learn the importance of self-reliance and the skills necessary to be self-sufficient at OSU and after graduation.

First-year and transfer students who have been admitted during fall term in the TRIO-SSS programs are required to take the course offered during fall term (ALS 109 & UEXP 399 Transfer Transitions course) and will receive two tuition free credits.

 

TRIO SSS 1st Year Student Success Course (ALS 109) (2 Credits) Offered Fall term.

Course Description:

ALS 109 is designed for TRIO-SSS students to ease the transition to college by providing them with the skills and information necessary to be successful students and productive citizens. Learning about resources and the career decision-making process will enrich their college experience and help them achieve their academic goals. Students will also learn the importance of self-reliance and the skills necessary to being self-sufficient. This course will create greater self-awareness of how students’ identities (values, experiences, identities, etc.) impact how they will move forward. Greater self-awareness will lead to greater self-authorship for their educational experiences.

Course Objectives:

  • Identify OSU resources available to them as they transition into their roles as students to becoming successful in college.
  • Demonstrate technological competency in regards to relevant academic websites and apps.
  • Recognize the value of clarifying their interests, personal goals, and learn how these relate to different majors, careers and opportunities in academia.
  • Identify financial literacy skills to make informed financial choices for college and beyond.
 
TRIO SSS Transfer Transitions Course (UEXP 399) (2 Credits) Offered Fall term.

Course Description:

UEXP 399 is open to all TRIO SSS transfer students enrolled in their first year at OSU.  Navigating the transition to a new university can be a particularly exciting and challenging experience. This class is designed to help facilitate your transition by improving your knowledge of the research university, guiding you through pertinent policies, procedures, and resources, assisting you in identifying key skills and strategies for success, and encouraging community and student engagement. Critical thinking, group collaboration, and class participation are emphasized as students honor their past experiences and explore advice from other transfer students and administrators

Course Objectives:

  • The Transfer Transitions course is designed to familiarize transfer students to OSU, challenge view points, and explore transitional experiences. As a result of active participation in this course, students will:
  • Evaluate their transition into, anticipate their path through, and plan for their career after OSU;
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the various OSU student resources, and identify resources that will aid in their success;
  • Think critically and strengthen writing skills through timely self-reflections;
  • Analyze research on a student transitional issue, and identify programs, through OSU or other institutions, that best address and support this issue;
  • Recognize their role in building an intentional community of support through respectful collaboration of classmates, faculty, and staff.
 
TRIO SSS Last Year Experience Course (UEXP 399) (1 Credit) Offered Winter term.

Course Description:

Decisions students make during college are based on their own identity and experiences. These choices will affect all aspects of their lives, including interests and values, and career paths they choose. This course is designed to ease transition from college to career by providing skills and information necessary to move into a successful career upon graduation. Learning about resources and career decision-making process will enrich job search experiences and help achieve career goals. Course will create greater self-awareness of how identities (values, experiences, etc.) impact how they will move forward. Greater self-awareness will lead to greater self-authorship for their future.

Course Objectives:

  • Identify career opportunities and target specific jobs that match current skills and career goals.
  • Gain tools and advice to present more confidently and professionally throughout the job application process.
  • Explore individual values and how they influence career choice.
 
Planning your Financial Future (ALS 209x) (2 Credits) Offered Spring term.

Course Description:

The US educational system does little to prepare students for managing their financial lives. This course intends to fill that gap by considering a wide variety of financial and “adulting” topics, so that TRIO SSS graduates can leave Oregon State University with knowledge and familiarity of financial concepts, as well as a plan in place to meet their financial goals. Regardless of whether they are very familiar with financial topics or completely new to the conversation, there will be something here for everyone to learn. We will examine: our relationships with money; our values and how they relate to our financial lives; our goals and how we can achieve them; the concept of compound interest and its importance in both debt and wealth accumulation; the how, why, and where of emergency savings; debt repayment; credit scores and reports; credit cards; budgeting and other plans for spending and saving; large purchases such as cars and houses; planning for retirement (and why you should start as soon as you can); investing money for the future; taxes; money in relationships; job benefits; insurance; and more! All students will learn about each topic, but students will choose which topics are most relevant for them, and will be provided with additional resources to learn more about those particular topics. The culmination of the course will be a personal financial plan that will provide students a starting point for intentionally shaping their post-college financial lives and achieving their goals.

Course Objectives:

  • Recognize and understand a wide variety of financial terms and concepts
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of different financial choices, including the lasting ramifications of those decisions
  • Discover personal values and goals, as well as financial strategies to achieve those goals
  • Develop a personal financial plan for post-graduation