Las Positas College In Livermore Offering $500 'Promise' Grants

LIVERMORE, CA — For many community college students, financial aid grants are unobtainable. Non-traditional students — working adults, those who skipped college after high school, and recent high school graduates who put their college education on the back burner — often have trouble making ends meet.

To help ease education costs, Las Positas College in Livermore is offering these types of students $500 college promise scholarship grants. The grants are provided each semester to students with limited or no access to direct financial aid grants and can be applied to the cost of textbooks, supplies and educational expenses, according to the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.

The grants are available as a result of AB19, The California College Promise, according to the district. On Oct. 13, 2017, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB19, which allows college districts to decide how grant funds can be utilized to assist the largest number of their students.

Approximately 43 percent of Las Positas College students receive financial assistance. With per unit fees of $46, students can expect to spend $552 per semester for a full-time course load, according to the college.

"We believe that over half of our students would be eligible for the Promise Grant Fee Waiver Program if they applied," said Las Positas College Interim President, Roanna Bennie. "With approximately 9,000 students enrolled in day, evening and online classes, it is imperative that we utilize AB19 funds to provide equitable access to more than first time, full-time students."

To be eligible, LPC students must be enrolled in at least nine units, six of which must be at LPC; have applied for financial aid by filing a FAFSA or DREAM application and have an expected family contribution of at least $3,100; qualify for the Promise Grant Fee Waiver Program, which waives enrollment fees for students who demonstrate financial need; and have a minimum of $500 in unmet financial need.

LPC will additionally use AB19 funds to increase financial aid outreach to students, staffing assistance and technical upgrades that will allow the college to meet the needs of even more students, according to the college.