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TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is one of eight  that identify and assist low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities in their pursuit of successfully completing their education. 

TRIO SSS specifically works with students at the university level who are pursuing their first bachelor's degree. We provide academic support services to enrolled TRIO participants, including academic advising, free tutoring, mentorship, advocacy, and assistance in filing FAFSA and navigating financial aid.

Participating in TRIO is free of charge, and services remain available to the student for up to 6 years from the date of enrollment in TRIO itself. 

TRIO strives to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of completing an bachelor's degree. In support of that goal, TRIO offers some of the following to its participants:

• Academic advising: Students benefit greatly from being assigned a TRIO advisor, who is available to them for no limit of one-on-one meetings throughout the semester. Our advisors don't just assist students with registering for classes. They also help students file their FAFSAs, advocate on their behalf when interacting with faculty and other offices on campus, apply for graduation application fee waivers, and connect with opportunities and resources critical to their continued academic and professional success.
• Academic tutoring: Each semester, TRIO students can receive one-on-one assistance from our TRIO tutors. While most of our tutoring services focus on math and writing, we attempt to provide tutors for other courses and subjects that students may be struggling with. We also work with students to help them take advantage of additional tutoring through the Writing Center and Math Center on campus.
• Peer mentorship: For TRIO students, by TRIO students. All of our Peer Mentors are current TRIO participants who have been with ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ and TRIO for some time. They can provide advice not just on managing studies, but also about exploring campus, finding university clubs and activities, and navigating life as a college student. We encourage first-time college students in particular to take advantage of the Peer Mentor Program.
• Textbook and technology loan programs: Thanks to incredibly generous donations, we are proud to offer our Book Loan Program and Technology Loan Program. These programs help us reduce some of the financial barriers preventing students from taking the courses they need in order to graduate. TRIO students can also take advantage of our computer lab in Aber Hall, where we have 6 desktops available, as well as a printer they can use for free.

More information on all of our services is available on our dedicated Services page. 

Yes. We can only provide TRIO Services to enrolled TRIO students.

However, where possible, we try to refer non-TRIO students to services and resources that may be able to assist them when we cannot. 

If you have questions regarding your eligibility for TRIO services, please view the Eligibility FAQ below, or consult our Eligibility & Application page for more information.

Yes. Your TRIO Advisor can help you file the paperwork necessary to make a Financial Aid Reinstatement Appeal.

If you are notified that your financial aid has been suspended, contact your TRIO advisor immediately. Filing an appeal involves gathering documentation and producing a written statement explaining your circumstances/situation. It will take time for you and your advisor to do both. Financial Aid will then need time to review your appeal and make a decision. 

You can find more about the financial aid appeal process and about maintaining eligibility aid on this page here.

Only active TRIO students are eligible for the Book Loan and Tech Loan programs.

For the Book Loan Program:

You can find the application for the Book Loan Program on its page here. The application is a Google Form link, and will change every semester. We also keep paper applications on hand. They are available for pickup in the TRIO Office.

When filling out your application, please prioritize listing the textbooks you need the most. You must provide the textbook's ISBN# and what class the textbook is for. We need the ISBN# to confirm that we're providing a student with the correct edition, and knowing which class the textbook is for helps us track student need and demand for certain courses or academic departments.

Book Loan Program Contact: triobookloans@umt.edu | 406-243-5032

For the Tech Loan Program:

You can find the application for the Technology Loan Program on its page here. The Tech Loan application is a Word document. You can fill this out either digitally, or by printing off a copy and filling it out by hand. We also have paper applications available in the TRIO Office.

Once completed, please submit the completed application to Janet Zupan either by email or in-person.

Tech Loan Program Contact: Janet Zupan | janet.zupan@umt.edu | 406-243-4210

Interested students will have the opportunity to apply for both programs at the beginning of each semester. Loans are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students who are selected for the Book Loan and/or Tech Loan will check out their loaned materials and then sign a contract with a TRIO Staff Member.

Loans are generally due 2 weeks before the end of the semester. However, if you require a textbook or equipment leading up to your finals, we will extend the loan due date until your finals conclude. Please contact either our main office (Book) or Janet (Tech) to let them know this before the loan due date. 

If a student fails to return their loaned items, they will be barred from using loans in all future semesters. 

To be eligible for TRIO, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be pursuing their first 4-year undergraduate degree (e.g., a bachelor's)
• Be enrolled in the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ (or "mountain" campus) as their main campus
• Meet at least one of these qualifications:
  • First-Generation College Student: Neither of the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) have received a bachelor's degree or higher.
  • Low-Income: Considered federally low-income based on size of family unit and household taxable income
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  • Disabled: The student has a documented disability

Per the Department of Education, students may qualify if they or their family are considered federally low-income. You can consult the

Family unit size for independent students will consist of the student, plus any legal dependents (such as minor children or a spouse) that they may claim on taxes.

Family unit size for dependent students will consist of the student, the parent(s)/guardian(s) they live with full-time, and any minor children or other legal dependents that the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) claim on their taxes. 

If you are pursuing your first bachelor's degree at the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ, then yes, you can still apply!

Bachelor's degrees are commonly referred to as "4-year degrees" because 4 years is the average amount of time it takes to complete a bachelor's while enrolled as a full-time student. Some students take 6 years or longer to complete a bachelor's; others may complete their degree within 3 years. TRIO does not require students to complete their first bachelor's degree in a set amount of time. 

You are considered a first-generation student if neither of your parents/guardians have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

This is still true even if either of your parents/guardians completed some college courses; were enrolled in college previously but did not graduate; are currently enrolled in college but have not yet earned their first bachelor's degree; and/or completed a 2-year degree (an associate's).

As long as neither of your parents/guardians graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher, you are considered a first-generation college student.

Unfortunately, our TRIO grant does not allow us to serve Missoula College students. We can only serve students who are enrolled at the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ in pursuit of their first bachelor's degree.

For Missoula College students seeking academic support, we recommend reaching out to the Missoula College's . Many of the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ's other academic services, such as the Math Learning Center and the Writing Center, are also available to Missoula College students.

Please note: if you are a student who is transferring from the Missoula College to the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ in pursuit of a 4-year college degree, then you may be eligible for TRIO services. 

Yes, but only if the campus you are enrolled in is the mountain campus (ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ-Missoula or ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Mountain Campus). You can confirm this by checking your Student Profile in Cyberbear. On the main screen of your Student Profile, look for the General Information section, and then look for campus.

If campus does not display ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Mountain Campus or ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Distance - Mountain Campus, then you are not eligible for TRIO services.

TRIO is designed to help students complete 4-year college degrees, which the Missoula College currently does not offer. Our grant also restricts our office to working with students enrolled at ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ only. Students can take classes at the Missoula College, but their main/home institution must be the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ.

ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Distance students are eligible for TRIO as long as they are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program through the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ.

Yes, as long as you have not earned your first 4-year undergraduate degree (e.g., a bachelor's).

Unfortunately, we are unable to enroll post-baccalaureate and graduate students in TRIO. Only students working toward their first bachelor's degree are eligible for TRIO services.

You can find the TRIO application on our Eligibility & Application Requirements page here. 

The application is a fillable PDF, and can be filled out digitally via phone, tablet, or computer. It can also be printed off and completed by hand. Hard copies of the application are available in our office, located on the 3rd floor of Aber Hall. 

Please complete the entire application. Incomplete applications will remain pending until students supply missing information. Completed applications will be prioritized for processing over incomplete applications.

If you have any questions about the application, or are having trouble completing it, you can contact our Program Coordinator at courtney.bentz@umt.edu to schedule a time to fill out the application together. You can also come to our office to receive assistance.

You can submit your application electronically by emailing the completed PDF to TRIO's Program Coordinator at courtney.bentz@umt.edu. 

Students are also welcome to drop off a physical copy of their application at our office. We are located administratively on the 3rd floor of Aber Hall.

Yes, you must provide your Social Security Number on your TRIO application. 

Similar to how you must provide your SSN to FAFSA, the Department of Education requires that all TRIO applicants provide their Social Security Number as part of the income verification and eligibility determination processes. This requirement still applies to students who do not qualify for TRIO on the basis of income.

If the following applies to you, then you are considered a U.S. citizen:

• You were born in the United States or born on a U.S. military base abroad to members of the U.S. military
• You can register or have registered to vote in U.S. elections
• You have been issued a U.S. passport

If the following applies to you, then you are considered a permanent resident:

• You are a citizen of another country
• You have been issued a green card
• You cannot leave the U.S. for more than a year

Generally, most ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ students are U.S. citizens.

Unlike the FAFSA, which requests tax information from two years ago, the TRIO application is requesting tax information from the previous tax year. This is required of all applicants by the Department of Education, regardless of whether or not they qualify for TRIO based on income levels.

Household Taxable Income can be found on Line 15 of the 1040 tax return. Please note the following:

• Dependent students: You will use information from your parent's/guardian's most recently filed tax return. 
  • A parent/guardian must sign this form to verify the tax information provided.
• Independent students: You will use your most recently filed tax return.
  • If you are under the age of 24; are not a current or veteran member of the military; and/or are not married, we will reach out to Financial Aid to confirm your independent status for FAFSA. 

If the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) or the student themselves (independent only) have not filed a tax return, indicate that on the application. We will then reach out to you for further information, and will likely request information from a tax return that you or your parent(s)/guardian(s) filed within the past few years.

Dependency status is determined by FAFSA in accordance with certain life circumstances, family situations, and/or legal statuses.

A student is considered independent if they are: 

• 24 years of age or older by January 1st of the school year
• Married or separated, but not divorced
• The provider for minor children or other legal dependants, for whom they provide more than 50% of their financial support
• A veteran or an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces
• Foster care youth who are aging out or have already aged out of foster care
• Legally emancipated minors
• Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Pursuing a graduate or professional degree (not eligible for TRIO services)

Generally, most undergraduate students are considered dependent by default unless they meet one of the above categories. 

 contains more information on dependency status, as well as a checklist to fill out to help determine if you are a dependent or independent student. 

If none of the dependency questions apply to you, or if you have extenuating circumstances, your next step should be to consult Financial Aid's Dependency Override page. Contact the ÀÏ»¢»ú¹¥ÂÔ Financial Aid Office for further assistance with filing an appeal.

This question is asking about the size of your household as reported on either your parent/guardian's taxes (dependent students) or your own taxes (independent students). 

For dependent students, your parent/guardian would list their household as they report it for taxes. This should at least include you and your parent/guardian. This could also include a spouse, any other minor children, and/or any other legal dependents, if applicable. 

For independent students, a household would consist of yourself and any legal dependents you may have. This could include a spouse, children, or minor siblings, among others. 

Whether you are dependent or independent, remember to include at least one for yourself.

Similar to the FAFSA, you will use information from whichever parent or guardian you have lived with for the past 12 months or longer.

Because TRIO is funded by a federal grant, we can only serve a set amount of students at a given time. Our serving capacity currently allows for 375 active students.

If you submit your application later in the semester, or submitted an application earlier but did not complete your intake interview until much later, you may be placed on a waiting list. We will notify you if you are waitlisted for acceptance to TRIO. 

As new student slots open up, we then contact waitlisted applicants and begin processing applications, starting with the most recent.

TRIO prioritizes waitlisted applicants who are first-generation and low-income.