The Student Support Services Program (SSSP) is a program funded by a federal (TRIO) grant from the Department of Education in Washington, DC.  In existence on Howard Community College's campus since 1979, the program targets three populations of students with more intensive support services to increase their retention and the probability of their successful transfer or completion of a degree or certificate program. The three populations of students served by the grant are:

1. Students who are considered low income by federal guidelines for income and family size;
2. First-generation college students (neither parent received a four-year degree), and;
3. Students with documented disabilities, for example, physical, psychiatric, or learning disabled; one-third of the students with disabilities in the SSSP must also be low income.

The grant is funded to serve 225 students.  Approximately 125 of the students served under the grant are students with disabilities.

The SSSP offers a variety of services to students.  Academic specialists are available to provide intensive support if students are having difficulties with reading, writing, English as a second language, mathematics, learning disabilities, or study skills.  The program also provides counseling services to program participants.  Counseling services include personal counseling, academic advisement, transfer counseling, counseling concerning advocacy/accommodations, referral for testing for learning disabilities, and other support services.  Additionally, individual tutoring in most content courses is provided one hour per week per each class.

The counselors in the Student Support Services Program will also act as liaisons between students with disabilities and faculty.  After consulting with the faculty and other appropriate personnel, they will suggest and/or provide specific accommodations.  Such accommodations may include the use of sign language interpreters, readers, writers, note takers, and specialized equipment such as screen readers, magnifiers, and other software/hardware to address specific areas of weakness.

• Download our Handbook for Students with Disabilities (PDF)
• Faculty handbook: For Working with Students with Disabilities (PDF)

Office Location: RCF 302  (Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, third floor)
Phone: 410 772-4629   for  information or an appointment with a counselor

Enhancing Student Success.

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