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FY 2020

Student Support Services 

Program Competition

Pre-Application 

Technical Assistance Workshop

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Postsecondary Education

Student Service

DRAFT 11/26/19
AGENDA

 Introductions

 Student Support Services Program 

Facts

 FY 2020 – Competition Highlights

 Selection Criteria

 Submission Details

 Questions and Answers

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DISCLAIMER

This document is a brief summary of the program 

regulations and application requirements. Do not 

rely solely on the information presented in this 

document. Please refer to the Notice Inviting 

Applications and the program regulations published 

in the Federal Register for additional information, as 

these are the official documents governing the 

competition.

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Student Support Services 

Program Facts

 One of Seven Distinct Outreach Support Programs Under 

the TRIO Umbrella

 Currently 1066 projects at IHEs Nationwide

 Approximately 202,255 Postsecondary Students Served

 Projected for FY 2020

– $1.6 Billion Allotment across all TRIO programs (Est.)

– $24.1 Million – SSS continuation awards

– $313.8 million – Student Support Services new awards

– 1066 Grants (Est.)

 Maximum Grant - $253,032 for new applicants

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FY 2020

Student Support Services 

Competition Highlights

 Competitive Preference Priorities (CPPs)

 Additional Selection Criteria

 Maximum Award Amounts

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FY 2020 SSS

Competitive Preference Priorities

1. Fostering Flexible and Affordable Paths to 

Obtaining Knowledge and Skills (up to 3 

additional points).

2. Fostering Knowledge and Promoting the 

Development of Skills That Prepare Students To 

Be Informed, Thoughtful, and Productive 

Individuals and Citizens (up to 2 additional 

points) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

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FY 2020 SSS

New Selection Criterion

34 CFR 75.210

(H) Demonstrates a rationale

• The extent to which the proposed 

project demonstrates a rationale 

(as defined in the notice).

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FY 2020 SSS

Maximum Award Amounts

(New applicants only)

Types of Project Minimum Maximum

Participants Award Amounts

Regular 140 $253,032

Disabled 100 $253,032

ESL 140 $253,032

STEM (incl. Health Sciences) 120 $253,032

Teacher Prep 140 $253,032

Veterans 120 $253,032

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FY 2020 SSS

Maximum Award Amounts

Per Participant Cost (cont.)

New applicants desiring to serve less than the minimum 

number of participants required for the selected project type, 

must request a per participant cost NTE the following:

Regular $1,807

Disabled $2,530

ESL $1,807

STEM (incl. Health Sciences) $2,109

Teacher Prep $1,807

Veterans $2,109

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FY 2020

SSS

Maximum Award Amounts

(Currently Funded Grantees Only)

 May request your FY 2019 base grant award 

amount to serve at least the same number of 

participants currently being served.

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FY 2020 SSS

Maximum Award Amounts 

(Per Participant Cost)

 For any currently funded applicant that proposes 

to serve fewer students than it served in FY 2019, 

the maximum award amount that may be 

requested is the amount that corresponds with 

the cost per participant previously established for 

the project in FY 2019.

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SUBPART A - GENERAL

 What is the Student Support Services Program? 

(§646.1)

 Who is eligible to receive a grant? (§646.2)

 Who is eligible to participate in a Student Support 

Services project? (§646.3)

 What activities and services does a project provide? 

(§646.4)

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SUBPART A - GENERAL

(cont.)

 How long is a project period? (§646.5)

 What regulations apply? (§646.6)

 What definitions apply? (§646.7)

– General: 2 CFR part 200, subpart A, or 34 CFR 77.1

– Other

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SUBPART B- How Does One Apply 

for an Award? 

 How many applications may an eligible 

applicant submit and for what different 

populations may an eligible application be 

submitted?(§646.10)

 What assurances and other information must 

an applicant include (§646.11)

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SUBPART C -

How Does the Secretary Make a 

Grant? 

 How does the Secretary decide which new grants 

to make? (§ 646.20) 

 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to 

evaluate an application? (§ 646.21) 

 How does the Secretary evaluate prior experience? 

(§ 646.22) 

 How does the Secretary set the grant amount? (§

646.23) 

 What is the review process for unsuccessful 

applicants? (§ 646.24) 

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What selection criteria does the 

Secretary use to evaluate an 

application?(§646.21 and 34 CFR 

75.210)

Need for the project 24 points

Objectives 8 points

Plan of operation 30 points

Institutional commitment 16 points

Quality of personnel 9 points

Budget 5 points

Evaluation plan

*Demonstrate a rationale

8

5

points

points

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How does the Secretary evaluate 

prior experience? (§646.22)

Prior Experience Criteria

Number of participants 3 points

Postsecondary retention 4 points

Good academic standing 4 points

Degree completion (4-year) 4 points

or

Degree completion and 

transfer (2-year) 4 points

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How does the Secretary set the 

amount of a grant? (§646.23)

 New Applicant: $253,032 (maximum)

 Currently Funded Grantees: Up to the FY 2019 

base award amount

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What is the review process for 

unsuccessful applicants?

(§646.24)

 Second review.

 Technical or administrative error for applications 

not reviewed.

 Administrative or scoring error for applications that 

were reviewed.

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Second Review

 Second Review for Eligible Unsuccessful 

Applicants

-Funding Band

-Written Request

 Second Slate

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SUBPART D -

What Conditions Must Be Met by a 

Grantee?

 What are allowable costs? (§646.30) 

 What are unallowable costs? (§646.31) 

 What other requirements must a grantee meet? 

(§646.32) 

 What are the matching requirements for a grantee 

that uses Student Support Services program 

funds for student grant aid? (§646.33) 

(402D (c.)(6) Special Rules) Supplement, not Supplant)

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Part III - Project Narrative

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• Clearly state your goals

• Identify the eligible 

population

• Determine the best 

program design for your 

institution and your 

students

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What selection criteria does the Secretary 

use to evaluate an application?(§646.21 and 

34 CFR 75.210 )

Need for the project 24 points

Objectives 8 points

Plan of operation 30 points

Institutional commitment 16 points

Quality of personnel 9 points

Budget 5 points

Evaluation plan

*Project Design

Total for Selection Criteria

Competitive Preference Priorities

Total Selection Criteria and 

Competitive Preference Priorities

8

5

105

5

110

points

points

points

points

points

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Need for the Project 

(§646.21(a)(1)) 

(Total 24 points)

A high number or percentage, or both, of students 

enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the applicant 

institution

(8 points)

– Show number or percentages of eligible 

students enrolled by combinations of 

eligibility criteria (i.e., low-income and firstgeneration students with academic need);

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Need for the Project 

(§646.21(a)(2))

The academic and other problems that eligible 

students encounter at the applicant institution; 

and

(8 points)

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Need for the Project 

(§646.21(a)(3))

The differences between eligible Student Support 

Services students compared to an appropriate 

group, based on: 

– Retention and graduation rates

– Grade point averages

– Graduate and professional school enrollment 

rates (four-year colleges only)

– Transfer rates from two-year to four-year 

institutions (two-year colleges only)

(8 points)

Provide data for applicant institution only DRAFT 11/26/19
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Need for the Project 

(§646.21(a)(3)) (cont.)

Appropriate comparison groups may include:

– total enrollment of institution;

– SSS eligible students not served by project; or

– any combination of the above.

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Data Sources

 Financial aid office;

 Institution’s research office; and

 Admissions office

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Validity of Data

 List only data concerning students enrolled in 

the applicant institution;

 Use the best and most recent information 

available that is not over three years old;

 Provide factual and readily verifiable data;

 Do not use estimates;

 Present data so that meaningful comparisons 

can be made (cohorts); and

 Provide the source and date of the information.

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Validity of Data (cont.)

Note:

 The data provided in the Need section of the 

application will form the baseline that your 

project will use to determine student outcomes.

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Objectives (§646.21(b))

(Total 8 Points)

 The Department has developed standardized 

objectives for the SSS Program.

 All standardized objectives must be included in 

the program narrative.

 Each objective must reflect the achievement rate 

proposed for the project as indicated on the SSS 

Profile Sheet and throughout the project 

narrative.

 The standardized objectives MAY NOT be 

changed, altered or rewritten in any way.

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SSS Standardized Objectives 

(2-year institutions)

A. PERSISTENCE Rate: ___% of all participants 

served in the reporting year by the SSS 

project will persist from one academic year 

to the beginning of the next academic year or 

earn an associate’s degree or certificate at 

the grantee institution and/or transfer from a 

2-year to a 4-year institution by the fall term 

of the next academic year. 

(3 points)

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SSS Standardized Objectives

(2-year institutions)

B. GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING Rate: 

___% of all enrolled SSS participants served 

will meet the performance level required to 

stay in good academic standing at the grantee 

institution. 

(2 points)

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SSS Standardized Objectives

(2-year institutions)

C. GRADUATION/TRANSFER Rates

1. ___% of new participants served each year 

will graduate from the grantee institution with 

an associate’s degree or certificate within 

four (4) years; (1 point) 

AND

2. ___% of new participants served each year 

will receive an associate’s degree or 

certificate from the grantee institution and 

transfer to a four-year institution within four 

(4) years. (2 points) DRAFT 11/26/19
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Graduation Rate 50%

Graduation and Transfer Rate 25%

First Academic Year

New Participants: 140

Graduation Goal: (140 x 50%) 70

(within 4 years)

Graduation and Transfer Goal: (140 x 25%) 35

Second Academic Year

New Participants: 20

Graduation Goal: (20 x 50%) 10

(within 4 years)

Graduation and Transfer Goal: (20 x 25%) DRAFT 11/26/19 5
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SSS Standardized Objectives 

(4-year institutions)

A. PERSISTENCE Rate: ___% of all participants 

served by the SSS project will persist from 

one academic year to the beginning of the 

next academic year or will have earned a 

bachelor’s degree at the grantee institution 

during the academic year. 

(3 points)

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SSS Standardized Objectives 

(4-year institutions)

B. GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING Rate: 

___% of all enrolled SSS participants served 

will meet the performance level required to 

stay in good academic standing at the grantee 

institution. 

(2 points)

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SSS Standardized Objectives

(4-year institutions)

C. Graduation Rate:

___ % of new participants served each year will 

graduate from the grantee institution with a 

bachelor’s degree or equivalent within six (6) 

years. (3 points)

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Objectives (§646.21(b)) 

(Continued)

The Objectives Selection Criterion is worth 8 Points.

– All 8 Points will be awarded based on whether the 

objectives are ambitious AND attainable based on 

the need, resources and project design.

– Applicants must provide comparative data to show 

why the percentage that is proposed for each 

standardized objective is ambitious AND

attainable.

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Plan of Operation (§646.21(c)) 

(Total 30 points)

 Inform the institutional community

(3 points)

 Identify, select, and retain project participants 

with academic need

(3 points)

 Assess each eligible student’s academic need 

and monitor academic progress

(4 points)

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Plan of Operation (§646.21(c))

Provides services that address:

 SSS Program purposes

 SSS project goals and objectives

 Project participants’ identified needs

(10 points)

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Plan of Operation (§646.21(c))

Project administration

 organizational placement of the project

 time commitment of key project staff

 financial management

 student records management

 personnel management

 coordination with other appropriate programs

(10 points)

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Institutional Commitment 

(§646.21(d))

(Total 16 points)

 Facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, and 

other resources

(6 points)

 Administrative and academic policies that 

enhance participants’ retention and improve 

their chances of graduating

(6 points)

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Institutional Commitment 

(§646.21(d)) (cont.)

 Minimize the dependence on student loans in 

developing financial aid packages

(2 points)

 Cooperation and support of Admissions, 

Financial Aid, Registrar and Sponsored 

Programs of the institution

(2 points)

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Quality of Personnel (§646.21(e)) 

(Total 9 points)

 Project Director

 Other Key Personnel

 Plan to employ

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Quality of Personnel (§646.21(e)) 

(cont.)

Project Director

 Formal education – degree and field 

requirements

 Training - years of experience and relevant 

fields

 Experience in designing, managing, or 

implementing SSS or similar projects

(3 points) DRAFT 11/26/19
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Quality of Personnel (§646.21(e)) 

(cont.) 

Other Key Personnel

 Formal education – degree and field 

requirements

 Training - years of experience and relevant 

fields

 Work experience related to project objectives

(3 points)

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Quality of Personnel (§646.21(e)) 

(cont.)

Employment plan

 Employ staff who have succeeded in overcoming 

barriers similar to those confronting the project’s 

target population

(3 points)

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Budget (§646.21(f))

(Total 5 points)

Project budget is:

– Reasonable

– Cost-effective

– Adequate

Provide a detailed budget narrative and a 

summary for the first year only. Budget narrative 

should clearly show and explain all costs.

(5 points)

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Personnel

Employee A 80,000

Employee B 60,000

Employee C 45,000

Total 185,000

Fringe

Employee A 8,000

Employee B 5,000

Employee C 3,000

Total 16,000

Staff Travel

Employee A 2,000

Employee B 2,000

Total 4,000

Student Travel

Trip 1 5,000

Trip 2 5,000

Total 10,000

Rental Fees 2,432

Grant Aid 3,000

Supplies 15,000

Total Direct Costs 235,432

Modified Total Direct Costs 220,000

Indirect Cost (MTDC*8%) 17,600

Total Budget 253,032 DRAFT 11/26/19
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Evaluation Plan (§646.21(g))

(Total 8 points)

 Appropriate and include both quantitative and 

qualitative evaluation measures 

(2 points)

 Examine in specific and measurable ways, using 

appropriate baseline data, the success of the 

project in improving academic achievement, 

retention and graduation of project participants 

(2 points)

 Use the results to make programmatic changes 

based upon the results of project evaluation 

(4 points) DRAFT 11/26/19
Quality of Project Design 

(Demonstrating a Rationale) 5 points

The Secretary will also evaluate applications on 

the extent to which the components of the 

proposed project “demonstrates a rationale” (as 

defined in this notice) based on a logical 

model/theory of action. 

 Demonstrates a rationale means a key project 

component included in the project’s logic 

model is informed by research or evaluation 

findings that suggest the project component is 

likely to improve relevant outcomes. 

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Logic Model

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Let’s bake a cake!

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Completing Your SSS Application

– Application submission through the 

http://www.grants.gov) by 11:59:59 p.m. 

(Eastern Time) on or before the deadline 

date.

– Applicants must submit using Grants.gov

Grants.gov registration involves many steps 

including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) 

which may take approximately one week to 

complete, but could take upwards of several 

weeks to complete, depending upon the 

completeness and accuracy of the data entered 

into the SAM database by an applicant. 

REGISTER EARLY

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Completing Your SSS Application

– Applicants may begin working on application 

while completing registration. BUT, applicants 

can not submit until all registration steps are 

complete.

– Save (on your computer) often while working 

on your application.

– Only PDF or Word files will be accepted.

Grants.gov details are available at:

http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted 

Grants.gov Customer service:

1-800-518-4726

Note: If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

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APPLICATION

FORMATTING TIPS

Refer to notice for formatting requirements.

 Page limit only applicable to CPPs.

 Recommended Narrative Page amount.

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Application Checklist

Application Face Sheet

SSS Program Profile

One-page abstract 

Program Narrative (Recommended 65-page 

limit)

Budget Narrative, justification, and summary 

for year one only

CPP responses (3 pages each: CPP1 and 

CPP2

SSS Assurance form

Required forms and certifications

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SSS Profile Sheet

Part III A – SSS Profile Sheet

 All applicants must complete this sheet

 Provides basic applicant information

 Includes SSS standardized objectives based 

on sector information designated by the 

applicant 

 The SSS Profile sheet may not be altered or 

revised

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

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Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)

Public Law 103-62

Concerns

 Government Efficiency

 Shrinking Resources

 Accountability

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Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)

Public Law 103-62

Enactment of GPRA in 1993:

 Improve confidence in government

 Development of strategic plan to measure 

program performance

 Performance reporting to Congress and public 

annually

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Exception to Electronic 

Submission

You may qualify for an electronic submission 

waiver if:

– You do not have Internet access

– You do not have the capacity to upload large 

documents to the Grants.gov system

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Exception to Electronic 

Submission

If you are submitting an exception request, you must:

– Mail or fax a written statement to the Department 

explaining your need to submit a paper application 

based on the two grounds for an exception.

• If mailing, your written statement must be POSTMARKED no 

later than two weeks (14 calendar days) before the application 

deadline date.

• If faxing, your written statement must be RECEIVED no later 

than two weeks (14 calendar days) before the application 

deadline date.

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Exception to Electronic 

Submission

Submit all Electronic Submission Waivers to:

James Davis

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Room 268-02

Washington, DC 20202-4260

Fax Number: 202-453-5780

Note: Paper applications submitted without an approved 

waiver will not be considered. DRAFT 11/26/19
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Grant Writing Warnings!

Applicants may not use federal grant funds to prepare 

an application or to seek additional grant funds –

This includes costs incurred to attend preapplication workshops!

Applicants who do business with anyone who has been 

suspended or debarred face the possibility of cost 

disallowances, termination of grant funding, suspension 

and debarment from Federal government procurement 

and non-procurement transactions.

DRAFT 11/26/19
Further Information

Website for Student Support Services Program:

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/triostudsupp/index.html

Program Contacts:

Lavelle Wright

lavelle.wright@ed.gov

202-453-7739

or

Tanisha Hamblin-Johnson

tanisha.johnson@ed.gov

202-453-6090

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Student Support Services 

Program

GOOD LUCK!!!

DRAFT 11/26/19