Services Provided
Student Support Services at Gannon empowers students.
SSS Students make use of free services delivered through
non-judgmental guidance and encouragement for academic and
life-long personal success.
We recommend that participants make appointments with their SSS
advisor to ensure availability. Participants also drop in to
meet with their SSS advisor without an appointment and meet
with other SSS staff.
SSS pairs new students with experienced undergraduates who are
successful in related fields and/or from similar backgrounds. Peer
mentors help students adjust to being away from home, answer
questions about how to become more socially active at Gannon,
assist students with basic budgeting and financial awareness, and
even help answer college adjustment questions. Peer mentors are a
good source for students who are not quite sure who or what they
should ask. Their peer mentor has often been in the same
situation.
The SSS peer mentor program includes one student who facilitates
tutoring assistance for SSS participants. They help connect our
students to tutors in the Writing and Research Center and the STEM
Center. They also help facilitate group tutoring sessions, where
possible. SSS advisors also support students through referring them
to tutoring and helping them sign up. SSS students are eligible to
receive an unlimited number of tutoring sessions in any specific
subject, where a tutor is available.
Tutoring is meant to assist students to increase knowledge
retention and learning, whether they're earning a 'C' and want a
'B' or if they're earning a 'B' want an 'A.' Tutoring is for all
students at all levels of achievement.
SSS students receive priority registration. This allows them to
register for classes ahead of their classmates. One student said,
"Priority registration and access to important information that you
wouldn't normally have is very beneficial."
Choosing a major or career can be a stressful process. Sometimes
students are uncertain where to begin. SSS advisors work
independently with program participants to help identify possible
areas of interest. They develop a plan and guide SSS students to
execute their plan. Once students are ready, SSS works with Career
Exploration and Development to connect students with focused career
advising and preparation, including assistance with securing
internships and job shadowing opportunities.
It is no secret that the requirements of college are different
from that of high school. They also change over time; higher-level
courses become more difficult and often have different expectations
than 100- and 200-level courses. SSS works with students through a
wide range of topics including, but not limited to: time
management, study skills, test taking skills, note taking skills,
wellness, healthy relationship habits, and effective and positive
communication strategies.
SSS advisors assist students in selecting courses that are
appropriate for individual student readiness, help to anticipate
when additional assistance may be helpful and assist students in
the registration process. The advice of SSS advisors is in addition
to advising supplied by faculty or other university assigned
advisers.
SSS assists its participants in staying up-to-date on the
requirements of the FAFSA and assists students and their parents in
completing this process. SSS also helps students to understand the
differences between different Federal Aid programs, as well as to
help identify and apply for external scholarships. We also work to
increase students' understanding of basic personal budgeting, how
to pay off their student loans and advanced financial topics, such
as investing and home mortgages.
Small and large SSS groups take trips together. We go to
musicals, play performances, interesting talks, historical sites,
and other similar venues, both local to Erie and farther away. This
includes our graduate school trips, which we pick based upon
student interest. One student said, "we went to Washington D.C. for
three days and all I have to say is that I am IN LOVE."
SSS can help to make the graduate application process clearer. We
assist students in all steps of the application process, including
identifying programs, completing a curriculum vita (CV - academic
resume), writing the statement of purpose, and finding and applying
for potential scholarships and fellowships for graduate school
funding.