FAQs

Eligible Students in 11th & 12th Grade
Eleventh and twelfth grade students with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) are automatically eligible for dual credit courses. Students with an overall grade point average between 2.5 – 2.99 (on a 4.0 scale) must provide a signed letter of recommendation from their principal or guidance counselor and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Eligible Students in 10th Grade
Tenth grade students must have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), provide a signed letter of recommendation from their principal and guidance counselor, and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Eligible Students in 9th Grade
Ninth grade students must have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), score at the 90th percentile or above on the ACT or SAT, provide a signed letter of recommendation from their principal and guidance counselor, and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Graduates are not required to participate in the Commencement Ceremony; however, we encourage you to do so. An email will be sent to potential graduates in early February requesting confirmation of participation in the ceremony. If you are participating, you will need to submit measurements for your cap and gown at that time. There is no charge for the cap and gown. However, if you order a cap and gown and do not participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you will be charged $30. A word of caution: You may not wish to participate in commencement, but your family may have other ideas. Please discuss this matter with your family before declining to participate.

You can decorate your cap. All decorations must be on top of the cap without any items hanging from the sides. The decorations cannot have any profanity or inappropriate embellishments. You will be asked to remove the cap if it is inappropriately decorated.

Keep your diploma in a safe place.
Replacement diplomas cost $25 and may be ordered at https://trcc.edu/diploma-replacement-form/

Yes, graduation announcements and other gifts are available for purchase at The College Store. You can email collegestore@trcc.edu for more information.

Campus tours are available while classes are in session. To schedule a tour, call the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605. If you can’t make it to campus, our Virtual tour will give you a quick overview of the buildings on our Poplar Bluff campus.

Only honor cords and veteran cords distributed by the Office of the Registrar, PTK stoles, and Alpha Delta Nu stoles may be worn during the ceremony.

Yes, the cap and gown are yours to keep. This allows you to get as many pictures as you desire, even with people who could not attend the ceremony. There is no charge for the cap and gown. However, if you order a cap and gown but do not participate, you will be charged $30.

The simple answer is yes. You must apply for graduation. Three Rivers College has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students who enter the College in different semesters and different years. Some have early college, advanced placement, or transfer credit, so they will complete their requirements more quickly than other students. Some are pursuing degree programs with different hour requirements. Some change majors or options and will need more hours to complete their recently declared major. With all those individual differences, it is nearly impossible for the College to determine who will actually be graduating when. So if you don’t apply for graduation, no one but you will know that you are planning to graduate.

Yes, a gift fee of 3-6% is not uncommon at higher education foundations throughout the country. The University of Missouri currently charges a 3% fee. We are a relatively young organization with a comparatively small endowment, and thus endowment management fees only partially cover our costs of doing business. However, even older organizations with much larger endowments frequently charge gift fees.

• Three Rivers does not offer review classes at our Poplar Bluff location. However, we do host HISET review classes at our Sikeston location.
• The MERS Goodwill Excel Center in Poplar Bluff offers review classes for those 21 and older (it is located by Bomgaars in the old Kmart building.)
• The Poplar Bluff Adult Education & Literacy Center offers HISET review classes. You can contact them at 417-255-7744.
• MOLearns is Missouri’s FREE high school equivalency (HSE) online preparation classroom for studying for the HISET.
• To schedule an online test, go to https://hiset.ets.org.

The resource fee included all required books and materials.

Like the vast majority of other foundations and trusts, the Three Rivers Endowment Trust realizes an annual fee to manage endowed funds that are invested in perpetuity by our investment agency. Because we want to maximize our endowment’s growth over time, we keep this annual management fee to a minimum, currently 1.15% of the market value of the endowment.

Current High School Partners

• Advance High School
• Bell City High School
• Bernie High School
• Bloomfield High School
• Campbell High School
• Caruthersville High School
• Chaffee High School
• Clarkton High School
• Clearwater High School
• Dexter High School
• Doniphan High School
• East Carter County High School
• Greenville High School
• Hayti High School
• Kennett Christian Academy
• Kennett High School
• Malden High School
• Naylor High School
• Neelyville High School
• Oran High School
• Poplar Bluff High School
• Puxico High School
• Richland High School
• Risco High School
• Scott City High School
• Sikeston High School
• Southern Reynolds High School
• Thayer High School
• Thomas W. Kelly High School
• Twin Rivers High School
• Van Buren High School
• Westwood Baptist Academy
• Zalma High School

If your high school is not partnered with us, but you are interested in Dual Credit, please contact our Dual Credit Coordinator, Amanda Taylor or 573-840-9619.

Yes, we do offer Continuing Education courses. To see what we are currently offering, visit https://trcc.edu/academics/continuing-education/

Endowment Trust operations are funded through a combination of unrestricted gifts, gift fees and direct support from Three Rivers College.

A name card will be provided during the ceremony where graduates can write their name out phonetically. The name card will be provided to the announcer, so that they can announce the graduate’s name correctly. The graduate can also meet with the announcer during the rehearsal or before the ceremony.

Please complete the following steps:

• Go to https://trcc.edu/
• Click on myTRCC(top of the page)
• Click on the ACCESS MYMAIL card.
• Sign in using your username and password.
• After you log in, you have access to Office 365
• You can also install Office 365 on your computer by clicking on “Install Office” in the right-hand corner
• Click on Download, and it will download to your computer.

It’s easy to apply for graduation! Please follow these steps:

• First, go to https://trcc.edu
• Click on myTRCC and log in.
• Click on Apply for Graduation.
• Select the degree that you will be graduating with.
• Select the semester that you will graduate.
• Select the semester that you will graduate.
• Check the address listed and either submit the form or the correct address and submit the form.

All the materials you need to get started at Three Rivers can be found on our Getting Started Checklist at https://trcc.edu/admissions/general-admissions/. If you would like general information or information about a specific program, you can request a packet be mailed to you by using the online request form or by calling the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605.

Students can change their name by bringing a marriage license or court order to one of the Three Rivers locations and filling out a Change of Personal Information form. Your information in our system will be updated within two business days.

You can connect to WiFi by taking the following steps:

• Select “Settings” on your phone
• Under the WiFi tab, select TRC-Students
• Log in using your school email username and password

Students can change their address and phone number through myTRCC by doing the following:

• Log in to your myTRCC account
• Click on Address Change
• Then complete information

Three Rivers College does not provide handicap parking permits. Please get in touch with the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a permit to use on campus.

Members of the nursing program’s honor society, Alpha Delta Nu, will receive the stole at the Nursing Pinning ceremony.

Students can receive a refund through direct deposit or a check mailed to your address on file.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

• Go to website https://trcc.edu/
• Click on myTRCC and log in
• Select Banking Information
• Complete the account information requested and Submit

You must have your photo taken at one of the Three Rivers College locations to get your student ID. Once the ID is processed, you can either pick it up at the Welcome Center on the Poplar Bluff campus or the off-site location where you attend classes. If you don’t have a student ID, a state or federal-issued ID can be used instead. Student IDs can be used for discounts at participating businesses.

Addresses and contact information for all our locations can be found at https://trcc.edu/about/locations/

Please complete the following steps:

• Go to your App/Play store on your phone
• Look up Outlook
• Download Outlook to your phone
• Follow directions as prompted (you will need your TRC email address and password)

If you need help logging into your email, myTRCC, Office 365, or Blackboard, please visit https://trcc.edu/login-assistance/ or contact the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605.

Drop by the Welcome Center or any of our locations to speak with an advisor in person. You can also make an in-person appointment with an advisor on the Poplar Bluff campus by scheduling your appointment at https://trcc.edu/admissions/academic-advising/ or calling the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605. Our advisors can meet with you by phone, email, or virtually through Zoom.

You are encouraged to preorder final transcripts and indicate on the request to hold these transcripts for a degree. Transcripts will be processed once the student’s academic records reflect graduated status. Learn more about transcripts here.

You will submit your cap and gown order online.
In early February, an email will be sent to potential graduates with information about the regalia order. Please check the Important Deadlines page for the deadline to order.

All tickets can be paid at the Office of Student Accounts located on the bottom floor of the Westover Administrative Building on the Poplar Bluff Campus.

You may pay your balance online by taking the following steps.

Go to https://trcc.edu/

• Click on myTRCC
• Go to Self-Service Student Menu
• Click on Student Finance
• Select Make a Payment
• Complete payment information and Submit

PICK UP

You can pick up books at The College Store located in the Bess Activities Center on our Poplar Bluff campus or at one of our external locations one week before classes begin. A photo ID and current schedule are required. You can also go to https://bookstore.trcc.edu/home to order books online.

RETURN

You can return books at The College Store located in the Bess Activities Center on our Poplar Bluff campus, at one of our external locations, or you can use the dropbox in front of the Bess Activity Center.

You can register a vehicle with Three Rivers College at https://trcc.edu/admissions/vehicleregistration.php.

Get help setting up and accessing myMail, myTRCC and Blackboard.

View Log-In Instructions

Complete the Withdrawal/Drop Form and submit it to your advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to talk with their instructor and/or advisor before making the decision to drop a class.

Traditionally the ceremony lasts 70 minutes.

There is no limit to the number of guests you may invite.

Ticket prices vary. Please visit https://trcc.edu/tinnin-fine-arts-center/ for ticket information.

There is no fee for graduation. There is also no charge for the regalia. However, if you order regalia and do not participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you will be charged $30.

The Rivers Ridge housing deposit is $200 and is due at the time of application.

The Three Rivers Endowment Trust’s funding sources are recommended by our Finance Committee and approved by our Board. The Finance Committee reviews the gift fee on an annual basis. In order to assure budgetary and financial stability, it is changed only rarely.

Three Rivers College determined that all Title IV eligible, degree seeking students who were attending face-to-face were impacted due to the change in the method of instruction on March 23, 2020. If you were originally enrolled in all on-line courses, you are ineligible. Due to this change, students lost access to technology on campus which included computer usage, printing, internet connectivity, etc. In addition, with the closure of campus housing, some students were required to relocate.

Grants were awarded based on estimated family contribution (EFC) that was calculated based on FAFSA information and current credit hour Spring 2020 enrollment status. Students with an EFC of $5,576 and below received approximately 80 percent of the funding. Awards were distributed as follows:

• Full time—12 or more hours: $1,119.30
• Three quarter—9 to 11 hours: $839.00
• Half time—6-8 hours: $560.00
• Less than half time—1-5 hours: $279.98

Students with an EFC of $5,577 or higher received the remaining portion of the funding. Awards were distributed as follows:

• Full time—12 or more hours: $813.30
• Three quarter—9 to 11 hours: $609.98
• Half time—6-8 hours: $406.65
• Less than half time—1-5 hours: $203.33

Diplomas are not handed out at the ceremony. Diplomas will be printed after academic records are evaluated and degrees are posted on the academic record. When diplomas are printed, you will receive an email to your TRC student email account informing you diplomas are ready for pick up. We hold the diplomas in the Office of the Registrar for one week for students wishing to pick up the document(s). After one week, diplomas will be mailed to the address of record. Please confirm your mailing address is correct on your myTRCC account before diplomas are mailed. We are not responsible for diplomas lost or damaged in the mail.

No. Per federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, funds should be distributed directly to students.

We will have a live broadcast for your family and friends who cannot attend. The link can be found on the Commencement page.

To see if your class has been cancelled, please visit https://trcc.edu/cancellations/.

Yes. You will need to provide proof of enrollment for your application for graduation to be approved. You will then need to have your official transcript(s) sent to the Office of the Registrar when you complete the course.

Tutoring is available to all students at any of the Three Rivers locations or virtually. Our professional and student tutors offer assistance in English, Writing, Math, Science, and Accounting. The Tutoring and Learning Center is located on the second floor of the Academic Resource Commons at the Poplar Bluff location. At other locations, ask the staff about tutoring options. To access online tutoring, log in to Blackboard, select the Tutoring and Learning Center Blackboard page and follow the step-by-step directions.

The annual Commencement Ceremony is held in May of each year. Students graduating in December are eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony the following May.
Students graduating in July can participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May before completing their degree or certificate.

The difference is primarily one of terminology. All community organizations have operating costs. In general, revenue from contributions helps in part to support them, whether or not a formal gift fee is identified. United Way, for example, typically charges fees of 15% or more. In the non-profit sector, best practice standards hold that operating costs in the range of 15-20% are considered to be excellent, assuring that approximately $0.80 of every dollar contributed goes to providing direct services. By comparison, $0.96 of each dollar you give to the Three Rivers Endowment Trust gets put to work by Three Rivers College for the specific purpose you choose to support.

To find the dates for things like dropping or withdrawing from a class, semester breaks, holidays, and more, visit https://trcc.edu/academics/academiccalendar.php.

Our “in-district” counties include Butler, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne. Residents not living in these counties are considered “out-of-district.” Our tuition and fees page is available at https://trcc.edu/financialaid/tuition.php, and our residency page is available at https://trcc.edu/academics/registrar/proof-of-residence/

PTK members wear a stole from PTK. You will not wear the tassel, medallion, or cord from PTK. You can order your stole directly from PTK at www.ptk.org.

It is very important to arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony to allow adequate time for line up. Late arrivals will not be allowed to have a seat on the floor after graduates have been seated. If you are late, you will be placed at the end of the line. Do not be late!!!

Candidates for graduation have three weeks after commencement to complete grades of incomplete, submit official transcripts from other institutions, and verify the accuracy of grades received. If you believe you have received an incorrect grade, please discuss it with the instructor. If a failing grade is received in a course you need to graduate; you will need to enroll in suitable course work in a subsequent semester and apply for graduation in that semester.

Visit the Graduation webpage
You can also email us at registrar@trcc.edu, stop by the Office of the Registrar, or call the Office of the Registrar 573-840-9665.

Students can use our pre-paid Meal Plan cards on campus, at more than two dozen grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants throughout our region. A Meal Plan card makes your excess financial aid accessible for meals, groceries, and fuel. Meal Plan cards can also be purchased with cash, check, or credit card and loaded at The College Store in the Bess Activities Center at the Poplar Bluff location. For a list of participating businesses, visit https://bookstore.trcc.edu/home

The Three Rivers College ACHIEVE Program is a comprehensive approach to building academic success, persistence, graduation, and transfer for our students. Students served by ACHIEVE find themselves surrounded by support services to help them succeed in the college environment. It is a federally funded program available at no charge to qualified students. To learn about the program, visit https://trcc.edu/studentservices/achieve/

The diploma will show your name, your degree, honors, if applicable, and graduation date. Diplomas are 10″ x 8″ and printed in landscape format. You will receive an email when diplomas are ready to be picked up. If you do not pick up your diploma within one week, your diploma will be mailed to the address of record. It will arrive in a flat 9×12 cardboard mailer.

The Three Rivers FAFSA code is 004713

Based on guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), IHE/Student Aid provides emergency financial aid grants to students to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the Student Aid funding, the CARES Act section 18004(a)(1) also provides an equal amount of Institutional Aid funding to cover college expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the CARES Act section 18004(a)(2) Strengthening Institutions Program provides funds to institutions that are not participating in the other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) programs but have at least 50 percent of their degree students receiving need-based assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act or have a substantial number of enrolled students receiving Pell Grants, and have low educational and general expenditures.

You must wear the Three Rivers College Commencement regalia consisting of the black gown, cap, and tassel. No corsages or other items may be pinned or worn on the gown.
As a rule, graduates should dress up but dress comfortably. This is a formal event. Avoid T-shirts or jeans and pick shoes that you can wear for an extended period.

Each donation to the Three Rivers Endowment Trust is assessed a 4% one-time administrative fee. Endowed scholarships are excluded from the gift fees.

Gift fee revenue is directly related to the Endowment Trust’s cost of doing business. Effective fundraising requires the deployment of financial resources to cover direct costs of soliciting, processing and accounting for donated funds. As gifts to benefit Three Rivers College increase, the costs of gift receipting, accounting, and investing/disbursing funds increase. Additionally, the gift fee allows the Endowment Trust to reduce its reliance on direct funding for its operations from Three Rivers College, thus freeing College funds for education.

Diploma covers are presented during the ceremony to graduates who participate in the ceremony.

Graduates should check in to the designated place for line up at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. Please allow adequate time for parking and a shuttle ride to the complex. Graduates should not bring any personal items into the lineup area.

Testing dates, times, locations, and registration is available at https://trcc.edu/testing.

October 1 – Fall graduates
February 1 – Spring graduates
February 1 – Summer candidates wishing to participate in the Commencement Ceremony
June 1 – Summer candidates who do not wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.

Returning students can move in on the Wednesday before the semester begins. New students can move in on the Thursday before the semester starts. Housing Orientation is held the Friday before classes begin.

The rehearsal is at 11 a.m. on the same day as the commencement ceremony at the Libla Family Sports Complex. Graduates are highly encouraged to attend rehearsal as every aspect of the ceremony will be reviewed. Please arrive 15 minutes early. You should not wear your regalia to rehearsal.

We encourage you to apply for graduation as soon as you have completed enrollment for your final semester. Applying early allows for time to resolve any unexpected problems.

You should receive your diploma within four weeks after the term you complete the degree requirements. When diplomas are printed, you will receive an email to your TRC student email account informing you diplomas are ready for pick up. We hold the diplomas in the Office of the Registrar for one week for students wishing to pick up the document(s). After one week, diplomas will be mailed to the address of record. Please confirm your mailing address is correct on your myTRCC account before diplomas are mailed. We are not responsible for diplomas lost or damaged in the mail.

The application for Housing can be found at https://trcc.edu/student-services/housing/

• Click on the “Complete the Housing application” link.
• Complete the application.
• Submit your Housing application to the Student Accounts office in the Westover Administration building or the Rivers Ridge clubhouse at the Poplar Bluff location.
• A $200 deposit is required with the application.

To see our upcoming calendar of events, visit https://trcc.edu/events/

Students and visitors can park anywhere on campus that is not designated as Faculty/Staff or Handicap parking.

Graduates and guests can park in the parking lots across from the baseball field, in front of the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, the Bess Activity Center, and the Westwood Event Center. Designated pick-up and drop-off spots on those lots are marked with Event Pick-up banners. There will be shuttles running from the parking lots to the complex. Please allow adequate time for parking and a shuttle ride to the ceremony.
You may pull up to the front of the Libla Family Sports Complex to drop off family members, then proceed to park in the designated areas.

When you submit your order for your cap and gown, you will choose which TRC location you wish to pick up your order. Please check the Important Deadlines page for the dates to pick up your cap and gown.
You will receive an email with detailed information regarding your pick-up location, dates and times.

The ceremony will be held in the Libla Family Sports Complex on the Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Campus. The Libla Family Sports Complex is a 60,000-square-foot gymnasium that seats over 3,000 people and is home to the College’s Raiders and Lady Raiders basketball teams.

Library services are offered at the Poplar Bluff and Sikeston locations. You can find the Poplar Bluff library on the first floor of the Academic Resource Commons. In Sikeston, you can find the library on the second floor.

The wheelchair ramp is located on the northeast corner of the building. The wheelchair-accessible entry and regular seating can be accessed through the main entrance of the Libla Family Sports Complex. Individuals using a wheelchair and one guest will be positioned on the upper west side of the facility. Individuals with other accessibility needs will be assisted as needed.

Graduates who anticipate needing accommodations to participate will submit this information with their regalia order. If you have specific questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@trcc.edu.

The VA Rep is Alysia Musser, and she is available at 573-840-9606 or amusser@trcc.edu. Additionally, you can get assistance with VA questions relating to Financial Aid at The Office of Financial Aid.

The U.S. Department of Education has made CARES Act funds available to students who incurred expenses as a result of COVID-19 related disruptions to campus operations. Based on federal guidance, these funds are provided to help students cover expenses related to food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and childcare expenses.

By registering for classes through Three Rivers College, the student agrees that his/her transcript will be released (without charge) at the conclusion of the semester directly to the high school’s authorized contact person.

You can request an additional transcript from the Registrar.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) has identified a common set of general education courses, commonly known as CORE 42. CORE 42 courses are guaranteed to transfer to any Missouri public college or university to satisfy general education requirements. All courses fall under the Core 42 MOTR Guarantee unless noted otherwise.

CORE 42 offers several courses across five knowledge areas: Communications (oral and written), Humanities and Fine Arts, Mathematical Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The state designates these courses with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number. This designation guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Courses that do not have the CORE 42 designation may still transfer. Three Rivers College encourages students to confirm the transfer equivalency and requirements of the institution to which they plan to transfer.

No, program of study and degrees will not be announced, just students’ names.

Yes. All graduates will have a photo taken before the ceremony and another photo on the stage receiving their diploma cover. These photos will be available to download at no charge. Graduates should check their TRC email account in the weeks following the ceremony for information.

Graduates are not arranged by program of study or by name. Graduates are invited to line up with their friends at the rehearsal to increase the likelihood they will be seated next to one another at the ceremony,