SLU Creates Students’ Opportunity for Achievement and Resource Program

03/18/2021

Saint Louis University announces the creation of the SOAR program (Students’ Opportunity for Achievement and Resource). This program was created to replace what has historically been the TRIO-SSS program.

The federal TRIO programs are educational opportunity programs that motivate and serve low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities as they progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to graduate school.

The SOAR program is going to be replacing the TRIO-Student Support Services program only, according to program director Lindsay Gonterman. SLU will continue to have have the TRIO-McNair Scholars Program and the TRIO-Educational Talent Search program.

The SOAR Program will work with SLU students who are Pell grant recipients, first-generation college students, and/or who are registered with disability services. SOAR will work with students throughout their time at SLU, from assisting with their transition to college to planning for what comes after their bachelor’s degree is in hand.

SOAR will provide resources and services that these students need on their path to college graduation and whatever lies beyond.

“We achieve this by taking a holistic approach, meeting the student at their level of need, providing intensive academic advising, advocating for and with them, developing a sense of educational responsibility within each student, and celebrating the milestones along the way,” Gonterman said. 

Students in the SOAR Program will receive intrusive advising, standing tutoring, peer mentoring, cultural programming, financial literacy education, and much more. In its first year, SOAR will aim to serve approximately 200 new and continuing undergraduate students.

“Current SSS students will be transitioned into the new SOAR program unless they request not to transition,” Gonterman said. “We are also actively recruiting students to join the program, particularly current first-year students as we were not able to admit them to the SSS program because of the loss of funding.”

Those interested in the program should contact SOAR Program Director Lindsay Gonterman at lindsay.gonterman@slu.edu.