All applications for financial assistance programs (i.e. student loans, work compensation, grants, scholarships, special funds, subsidies, prizes, etc.) will be considered by the

Riverside Community College District without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding

the non-discrimination policies or practices: District Compliance Officer, 3801 Market Street, Riverside, CA 92501, or (951) 222-8039.

STUDENT FINANCIAL

SERVICES

NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021 Volume 3, Issue 2

ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICES

F INANCIAL AID UPDATES

SCHOLARSHIPS,

WORKSHOPS AND MORE

ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICES

STUDENT SERVICES LIVE! Our Student Services support center is available online, through Zoom. Student Services Live offers a one-stop resource center where you can receive help from Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, and Assessment. To connect

with a representative you’ll need access to an internet connected device. Visit Student Services Live, submit an entry form and receive a Zoom link to connect you with an available representative. Financial aid services include: • FAFSA and Dream Act application assistance • Financial aid status and file completion • Satisfactory Academic Progress and appeal status • Disbursement inquiries • Answers to general questions and more

MOBILE FINANCIAL AID Moreno Valley College (MVC) offers a mobile, personalized process that makes everything about navigating financial aid easier. At Verify My FAFSA, you can complete pending financial aid tasks online, with secure document upload from any device, and e-sign capabilities. After submitting your FAFSA, refer to your RCCD student email for more details.

FINANCIAL AID CHATBOT Moe the Mountain Lion is easy to use and available to answer questions 24/7. Visit the MVC Student Financial Services (SFS) webpage and click on the yellow chat icon at the bottom right of the screen to start interacting with Moe.

GRADGURU With GradGuru you can stay on top of deadlines, see a comprehensive list of campus events and workshops, add events to your calendar, receive deadline reminders for FAFSA, financial aid forms, scholarships, and much more. GradGuru is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play. Download the app, select college, and register with your college ID number to get started.

FAFSA & CADAA

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION If you need financial assistance to pay for college, don’t miss out! Students attending Moreno Valley College during summer 2021 through spring 2022, should submit the 2021-2022 FAFSA with the MVC school code 041735, and ensure their social security number is on file with Admissions and Records. If you are an undocumented student and have been determined AB 540 eligible by Admissions and Records, submit the 2021-2022 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and include the MVC school code 04173500. Only submit the application you are eligible for, not both!

2021-2022 CAL GRANT PRIORITY DEADLINE What is a priority deadline? To have the best chance of receiving multiple sources of aid, it is important to submit your application by March 2 each year. Some financial aid is only available to students who meet this deadline, and some funds are limited, so meeting the priority deadline gives you the best chance to qualify for as much financial aid as possible.

Still haven’t submitted your application for 2020-2021? It’s not too late! Students who were enrolled between summer 2020 and spring 2021 should submit the 2020-2021 FAFSA or CADAA as soon as possible. You may be eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) tuition fee waiver and additional financial aid.

WEBGRANTS FOR STUDENTS (WG4S) WebGrants allows student’s to manage their state grants by checking statuses, viewing updates, submiting school changes, and updating address and contact information. After a student’s FAFSA or CADAA is processed, they will receive an email from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) with a notification to create their WebGrants 4 Students (WG4S) account. Are you Cal Grant eligibile? You will need to log in to WebGrants to confirm your award, confirm your school of attendance, and ensure your GPA has been submitted to CSAC by March 2. If MVC is not listed, submit a school change as soon as possible. High school seniors will also need to confirm their graduation date. Notifications requesting additional forms should be completed by the required deadline to avoid delays and holds to your award. For CSAC Student Resources, click here.

CADAA FAQ’S

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT RESOURCES

CSAC Resources for the California Dream Act Application Immigrants Rising: Transforming Lives Through Education Scholarships for Undocumented Students Undocumented Student Resource Center

Common misconceptions about the CA Dream Act may prevent undocumented student’s from taking advantage of many available financial aid opportunities. To assist students in making the best decisions to fund their education, CSAC has provided a resource that discusses the most frequently asked questions from students and parents, and offers clear, reliable answers.

As an undocumented student, if you have ever wondered what types of financial aid you are eligible for, is it safe to fill out the CADAA, what application do you submit if you have a special designation social security card, or if your parent’s citizenship status affects your Dream Act eligibility, you are not alone. For answers to these questions, and many more, visit CA Dream Act Application FAQ’s for Students and Parents.

FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT There are a wide range of financial opportunities available to current and former foster youth to help pay for college. To begin the process, submit the FAFSA or CADAA. If a student was in foster care for one day after their 13thbirthday and can provide documentation of their foster care status, they could be eligible to receive thousands of dollars in additional aid that they do not have to pay back. CAL GRANT B

The Cal Grant B Foster Youth Award provides current and former foster youth increased Cal Grant eligibility, the added benefit of renewing their Cal Grant B for the equivalent of eight years of full-time attendance in an undergraduate program, they have until age 26 to apply for the Cal Grant High School Entitlement Award, and they can apply for a High School Entitlement award through September 2, at a California Community College. Read more at Cal Grant B Foster Youth Award. CHAFEE GRANT

The Chafee Grant provides California foster youth up to $5,000 per year at an eligible California or out of state

college. Student must be a current or former foster youth who was a ward of the court, living in foster care, for at least one day between the ages of 16 and 18, have not reached age 26 as of July 1 of the award year, and have not participated in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive). Read more at Chafee Grant for Foster Youth.

FOSTER YOUTH RESOURCES

CCP Scholarships for Foster Youth Chafee Grant Factsheet John Burton Advocates for Youth Resources Students with Dependent Children (SWD) Grant

DREAMERS

FOSTER YOUTH

“No student wants to interrupt his or her education because of financial troubles.”

MONEY MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Follow this checklist to help you manage your financial life while in school.

Apply for Financial Aid

At StudentAid.gov, you can find out how to prepare for college, career school, graduate school, and professional school, what types of aid are available, and how to apply.

Student Loans

Take the first steps in managing your credit and student loans by viewing your “My Federal Student Aid” account at StudentAid.gov, or downloading the myStudentAid mobile app to get an overview of all of your federal student loans.

Maintain a Bank Account

Bank accounts are a necessary tool to help you track, spend, and save money. Keeping track of your expenses is a habit that will come in handy for future loan repayment. Learn more at Opening a Bank Account.

Create a Budget, Spend Wisely

Keep track of your expenses by creating a budget and checking it regularly. You can view the Budgeting Video on Student Aid.gov to find out how easy budgeting can be and find a method that works for you.

Get into the Habit of Saving

Now is the time to start saving (paying yourself first). Create an emergency fund for unexpected expenses, put money aside…prepare for your future. Learn about saving money at Save and Invest.

Manage your Credit Cards

Credit cards can come in handy, but they can also get you into financial trouble, so use them wisely. For information, visit My Money-Borrow.

Monitor Your Credit Score

A good credit score can lead to all sorts of financial advantages such as cheaper insurance premiums and lower borrowing costs. For information on protecting your credit and reviewing your credit report, visit Credit and Loans.

Protect Your Identity

College students are easy targets for identity theft. Do not share your SSN unless it is required. Find out how to protect yourself from identity theft while in school at Identity Theft/Scams.

Read more

SCHOLARSHIPS RCCD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS UPDATE

RCCD Foundation Scholarship awards for 2021-22 will be announced late May. Be sure to log into the scholarship site promptly to Accept scholarship offers. Disbursements will begin in the fall. The RCCD Foundation Scholarships application is open each year from October through January. The application for high school senior scholarships is open January through April. Complete just one application and be matched to multiple opportunities. Informational workshops will be available during the application period. EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS

External opportunities are offered year-round on the District’s scholarship site. No login is required, simply visit RCCD External Opportunities to view the list of scholarships or search using key words.

WORKSHOPS

Join SFS for financial aid workshops via Zoom. This informative series provides students with a better understanding of the financial aid process, application assistance, and an opportunity to get your questions answered. Click on a link below and register for the workshop that is right for you.

FAFSA

Tuesday, February 16 12 – 1 PM Help Completing your FAFSA Application

Tuesday, February 23 12 – 1 PM Help Completing your FAFSA Application

Monday, March 1 2 – 3 PM Help Completing your FAFSA Application

Tuesday, March 9 12 – 1 PM Help Completing your FAFSA Application

CADAA

Thursday, February 18 12 – 1 PM CA Dream Act Workshop & Application

Thursday, February 25 12 – 1 PM CA Dream Act Workshop & Application

Tuesday, March 2 12 – 1 PM CA Dream Act Workshop & Application

Thursday, March 11 12 – 1 PM Financial Aid for Undocumented Students

FOSTER YOUTH Tuesday, March 16 12 – 1 PM Foster Youth Financial Aid Workshop

HIGH SCHOOL Monday, February 22 2 – 3 PM Financial Aid for High School Students

View the SFS Workshop Calender here Questions or Suggestions? Contact Student Financial Services

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP)

SFS COUNSELORS

In the world of higher education, academics and financial aid go hand-in-hand. To be eligible for federal student aid and college financial aid, you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Being prepared with what your school expects of you ahead of time will lessen the chances of you falling below SAP standards and losing financial aid or scholarships. It is recommended to become familiar with your college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, which can be found in the MVC SFS Consumer Guide here. Most importantly, ask for help if you feel like your grades or understanding are slipping. Staff and available support programs at MVC are dedicated to helping students improve, and we will not hesitate to help you find what and who you need in order to perform successfully!

FINANCIAL AID TV (FATV) In our fall newsletter, we reviewed the the importance of understanding SAP. But what happens if you fail to meet one of these requirements during the semester? Watch the following FATV videos to learn about the SAP statuses of warning and probation. We will also consider some common causes of poor academic progress, and basic strategies for becoming a successful student.

Student Financial Services Counselors are available to provide support so you can stay on your pathway to success. We strongly encourage you to meet with an SFS Counselor as soon as possible if you: • Are considering withdrawing from a course or are in

danger of not passing a course • Have received a financial aid warning email • Have received a financial aid ineligibility email • Need to create or update your Student Educational

Plan (SEP) Schedule a Counseling Zoom Appointment or send an email to Deanna.Murell@mvc.edu.

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT The Student Employment Program helps students earn money to pay for their educational expenses by working part time (up to 20 hours per week) while learning transferable job skills. You can benefit from a flexible work schedule, resume experience, and earning money while gaining work experience. To review programs, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, go to the MVC Student Information Page. You can also leave a voicemail at (951) 571-6252 or send an email.

CONTACT SFS ZOOM: Student Services Live!

SFS VOICEMAIL: (951) 571-6139

EMAIL: StudentFinancialServices@mvc.edu

What is Financial Aid Warning?

What is Financial Aid Probation?

Common Causes of Poor Academic Progress Basic Strategies for Becoming a Successful Student