Services
Academic Advising
Academic Advising provides personalized guidance to help participants achieve their educational and career goals. Katie assists with course selection, major exploration, degree planning, transfer process and connecting to campus resources to ensure a smooth path toward graduation.
Academic Coaching
• Discuss LASSI Results (a learning and study skills self-assessment, to help develop learning)
• Academic Skill Tutoring (college success tips, reading comprehension, vocabulary)
• Career Guidance (making career decisions, interviewing skills, resume/cover letter writing)
• Coaching (note-taking skills, time management, test-taking skills, learning styles
Tutoring
Tutoring Services provides free, personalized academic support to help students build confidence, master core concepts, and achieve their academic goals. Magda and Lesley offer targeted assistance in Mathematics—from foundational math to advanced coursework—as well as English, Reading, and Writing, helping students with essay structure, comprehension, and critical thinking at any stage of the learning process.
Scholarships
Scholarship Assistance guides students through finding, applying for, and securing free funding for their education. TRiO offers personalized help with locating relevant scholarships, editing application essays, gathering supporting documents, and managing deadlines to help reduce out-of-pocket college costs.
Career Guidance
Career Guidance provides personalized support to help students explore career paths, connect majors to professional outcomes, and build job-readiness skills. Advisors assist with career assessment, resume writing, interview preparation, and internship search strategies to ensure long-term career readiness.
Check out the TRIO Brightspace page for job shadowing opportunities, micro-credentials, career explorations and more.
Transfer Assistance
TRiO supports students preparing to transition to a four-year university. We offer one-on-one guidance with university selection, credit evaluation, transfer pathways, application submission, and scholarship opportunities to ensure a seamless academic transition
LASSI (Academic Skill Inventory)
Self-assessment that shows how a student views themselves as a strategic learner. This is a 10 scale, 60 item assessment that looks at the three components of strategic learning: Skill, Will, and Self Regulation
Financial Literacy & Financial Aid
This service offers one-on-one assistance to help students apply for financial aid, evaluate award offers, and make informed choices about paying for college. TRiO provides practical guidance on FAFSA completion, loan options, budgeting, credit building, and debt management to support long-term financial success.
FirstGen U
Students must join a FirstGenU Career Institute to gain access to the online curriculum as well as opportunities to engage with their peers and professionals through our virtual events. This is a flexible, short-term program that is offered five times each year. Students who complete the program earn robust alumni benefits including a certificate of completion, access to a network of professionals, information about internships and other professional opportunities, continued support through ANY, and more
Workshops
TRiO hosts a variety of workshops throughout the semester focusing on Academic Skills, Financial Literacy, Personal Wellbeing, Career, Transfer, Leadership and Social Events to assure all participants receive a well rounded personal and professional experience. See our Events Calendar for an example of offerings.
Cultural Trips
TRiO provides participants with a variety of experiences outside the class. TRiO values the diversity of our participants as well as the City of Chicago. Free trips are provided throughout the academic year. Past trips include; Architectural Boat Tour, Bowling, Escape Room, Theater Productions, Musical Performances, Milwaukee Folk Fair, Kayaking, Starved Rock, Museum Trips and many more!
Campus Visits
TRiO works closely with the Truman College transfer center to support their campus visits. We stress the importance of being able to check out different four year schools to see what is right for our transfer students. Past trips included; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northeastern Illinois University, Elmhurst College, University of Illinois at Chicago and many more.
Personal Development Modules
Modules Include:
Anxiety Management, Anger Management, Financial Success, Personal Responsibility, Success Profile and Winning Colors.
In Partnership with CONOVER click the link to explore how it works. Request access HERE
Strengthquest
StrengthsQuest™ is a program created by the Gallup Organization, which focuses on developing strengths rather than fixing weaknesses. By developing their strengths people can achieve higher levels of academic, personal, and professional success. The StrengthsQuest™ assessment assesses and ranks your themes of talent and gives you a report of your top 5 talent themes.
Co-Learning Spaces
TRiO has two spaces available for our students to study and relax in. The study lounge provides a space for students to charge phones, laptops while enjoying some coffee/tea and the computer lab provides Free Printing. Great space to also meet other TRiO Participants!
Graphing Calculator
Save yourself some money and borrow a graphing calculator from TRiO. Sign one out with staff and use it for the entire semester.
Book Loaners
TRiO has a small library of donated books from past participants. If we have a book for your class, you can borrow it for the entire semester. TRiO also has access to a large selection of electronic books to help you save some money.
Emergency Laptop Loaners
TRiO works very closely with Truman College Information Technology program to offer loaner laptops. If you are not eligible for one or if your desktop or laptop break down, TRiO can temporarily loan you one until you get a replacement.
Meet & Eat
Connect with faculty, staff, or campus administrators over a free lunch in the cafeteria. It’s a great opportunity to explore fields of study, build your network, and forge relationships that lead to strong recommendation letters for scholarships and transfer applications.
Leadership Challenge
Building your leadership skills is an essential asset for your future career. TRiO offers a Leadership Challenge on the 3rd Thursday of every month throughout the Academic year. TRiO Students who participate in 3 or more challenges are invited to our End of the Year Scholars Ceremony at Fogo de Chao restaurant.
Wyzant
TRIO offers limited third-party tutoring through Wyzant for courses where City Colleges of Chicago does not have available tutors. If you need extra academic support to ensure your success, reach out to Katie or Percy for more details on how to qualify.
