FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

FYE is LACC's implementation of the LA College Promise. In the Fall of 2017, the 9-campus Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and the City of Los Angeles, in conjunction with the LA Chamber of Commerce, began the LA College Promise (LACP). It was a unique collaborative effort which provided success supports for LAUSD graduates moving into the LACCD after graduation, with the added benefit of paying for their first year's enrollment fees. At LACC, the First Year Experience (FYE) predated the LACP by 2 years and the processes and supports were virtually identical to those of the LACP, so "College Promise" at LACC became synonymous with "FYE."In its current form, LACC's FYE now makes nearly all LACP benefits available to all qualified California residents via California Assembly Bill 19 (AB19), and the only way to participate in LACC's College Promise program is via FYE.

However, just to make things confusing, the "California College Promise Grant," is a separate state-benefit for low-income students, which is explained at the bottom of this FAQ. Please see below.

The priority deadline is May 1st. This ensures that students can take advantage of priority registration for Fall classes. However, we will continue to accept new students throughout the summer before their first year.

No. Students will need to complete the required elements of the LA College Promise including completing FAFSA or the CA Dream Act, completing Assessment, Orientation and Counseling, and participating in Summer Bridge. Students also need to enroll full-time and agree to a contract which details their requirements for the duration of their first year.

There is no limit to the number of units that College Promise can cover in either Fall or Spring of a your first year.

It depends. College Promise covers the fees for classes taken in Summer Bridge (Counseling 40A and Basic Skills 23CE). This is only for incoming students. College Promise will not cover the fees for classes that a student chooses to take on their own. Covering fees for additional courses in the Summer are the responsibility of the student, but may be covered by applicable Financial Aid, scholarships or other resources unique to each student's financial situation.

No. Only classes taken in Fall and Spring are covered. To cover tuition fees for Winter/Summer, the student will need to apply for financial aid through FAFSA/CA Dream Act. Noncredit courses are available free of charge for all students (and may be required for some Promise students).

Currently, the College Promise does not cover these expenses. However, Promise students have access to additional financial assistance to help cover food, books or transportation costs. Students also have access to summer job and internship opportunities, as well as international travel experiences.

Yes.

No. All students (not just Promise students) will be automatically charged the Associated Students fee. Students will need to opt out of they do not want to pay the ASG fee.

No. LACP and FYE students are required to enroll in 12 units per semester, and non-credit courses are 0 units.

Promise students will receive registration dates at the beginning of Group 2. They will register immediately after the Group 1 (special populations).

Yes. The LA College Promise is not mutually exclusive with any other program offered at LACC. In fact, we encourage students to take advantage of these beneficial programs. A major benefit of the Summer Bridge is to help students learn about and apply for membership in these programs.

In order to remain eligible for College Promise benefits, student must maintain full-time enrollment. If a student drops below 12 units in the Fall, the student must complete an appeal application to be able to continue as Promise student in the Spring. Please speak with an FYE counselor if you are thinking about dropping courses.

In order to meet College Promise eligibility requirements, students must be enrolled full-time as of census (the end of the second week of the semester). If they are not enrolled full-time as of that day, they do not qualify for Promise. They can still qualify if they are able to enroll full-time by enrolling in late-start classes prior to the deadline for eligibility. Once the Fall Promise eligibility date has passed, there are no further opportunities to receive College Promise benefits.

In order to remain eligible for College Promise benefits, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, and pass both Math and English classes with a "C" or better. Students who do not meet these requirements must submit an appeal to remain in the College Promise program.

The California Promise Grant was formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, or "BOG", which waives students' enrollment fees based off of income data. The "College Promise," "LA College Promise," or "California College Promise" is a student success program administered by the First Year Experience program at LACC. FYE's College Promise provides services, support, supplies, and other benefits in addition to covering enrollment fees and has no income requirement. It combines the LA College Promise and California's AB 19 (and in the future AB 2) "College Promise" benefits.