One issue I frequently see is that Financial Aid offices often provide only FAFSA/ISIR information, which includes Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) rather than taxable income. However, the Higher Education Act defines a low-income individual as someone whose family's taxable income for the preceding year does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level for the applicable family size. In addition, FAFSA relies on prior-prior year (PPY) income, rather than income from the preceding year referenced in the statute.

As a result, FAFSA information does not align perfectly with the statutory definition of low-income for TRIO purposes in two important respects:

• FAFSA reports AGI rather than taxable income.

• FAFSA uses prior-prior year income, while the Higher Education Act references taxable income for the preceding year.

I am aware that the U.S. Department of Education has previously acknowledged the practical use of FAFSA information in determining TRIO eligibility, particularly given the FAFSA's prior-prior-year…

Hello-

I am an advisor in a SSS-disability program at California State University, East Bay. I understand of the thousand or so SSS programs there are only around 50 that exclusively serve disabled students. Are there any existing communities or groups bringing together just staff of SSS-D programs? Our struggles and challenges are often quite different from the traditional SSS programs. If there is not currently a group, I would be interested in starting one if anyone would like to collaborate.

Greetings!

I have been in TRiO for many years and I have heard several ways students can prove they have a documented disability. What is the best answer? Can students provide their own documentation or must they go through Accessibility Services?

Hello! My university was granted the TRIO SSS grant and I was just hired mid-February as Director of the program. There are so many questions I have as a I feel like I am starting behind. Can you provide the best trainings that I should be signing up for and watching first? Next, our budget has been submitted twice prior to me being hired. Through discussions with directors, there are a lot of changes that seem necessary. Is it appropriate to ask my program specialist to review and approve a new budget? Also, any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!