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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Students who receive the incentive will be benefiting from what is called the Mendocino College Promise, and is thanks to Assembly Bill 19, which provides funding to California Community Colleges to accomplish district goals and waive fees for first-time students.
“It is critical that we spread the word about how affordable and attainable a college education can be,” said Vice President of Student Services Ulises Velasco. “The Mendocino College Promise program will eliminate the financial barriers facing some of our students and allow them to remain in our community as they seek a college degree.”
With current costs per unit of $46, the Mendocino College Promise Grant can save students up to $1,380 throughout the 2019-20 academic year.
The Mendocino College Promise is not based on financial need and is available to any first-time college student who completes 15 units in the fall 2019 semester and enrolls in 15 units again in the spring 2020 semester.
Once eligible students complete the fall semester and enroll in 15 units for the spring 2020 semester, they will receive a grant that covers their out-of-pocket enrollment expenses for both the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters.
“The Mendocino College Promise is an investment in our community and will support students as they pursue their academic goals,” said Mendocino College interim Superintendent/President Eileen Cichocki. “Studies show that students who take 15 units per semester have greater success in their classes and complete a degree and/or transfer in two years. The Mendocino College Promise is a win-win for our students and our community as a whole.”
“While this program will impact a small number of students at first, our intent is to partner with the Mendocino College Foundation and our community to grow this program,” said Vice President Velasco. “Our goal is for every student in our community to receive two years of free education at Mendocino College. We will continue working towards that goal and the Mendocino College Promise is a major first step in that direction.”
Those not currently enrolled at Mendocino College can apply now online at www.mendocino.edu for the fall semester which begins Aug. 19.
For more information about the Mendocino College Promise program, visit www.mendocino.edu/promise.
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- Written by: Caltrans
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans has awarded two $1,500 scholarships to local high school graduates as part of its 2019 Scholarship Program, thanks to the generosity of its district employees and support from the California Transportation Foundation.
This scholarship program supports college-bound high school seniors. Scholarships are competitive and based on applicant’s commitment to a career in transportation, attendance to a California University or State College, academic record, participation in extracurricular and/or community-related activities and, live within the four counties of the district – Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino counties.
The students receiving scholarships are Michael Taliaferro, a graduate of Lower Lake High School, and Dallas Daynara, a graduate of McKinleyville High School.
District 1 Caltrans employees have been raising money for this program for eight years with funds generated through proceeds from fundraising activities including candy and snack sales, bake sales, donut sales, Valentine’s Day gift sales and more.
This scholarship program is also supported by the California Transportation Foundation, which donates 25 percent of the funding.
Brad Mettam, Caltrans deputy for District 1 for planning and local assistance, spoke with pride of this tradition. “Caltrans District 1 employees work hard to raise these scholarship funds on their own. I’m just fortunate to have the opportunity to meet these students and show our support to their career goals.”
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“Food insecurity is a serious problem on California college campuses today and this is an important step to addressing it,” Sen. Dodd said. “My bill will ensure students of modest means don’t go hungry by making it easier for them to receive public assistance. Students shouldn’t have to starve in order to get an education.”
The inability to afford food – or food insecurity – is a top concern among college students. A recent Government Accountability Office report shows a third of all college student are struggling to afford food and basic nutrition. It recommends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service take steps to enroll people in federal food assistance programs.
Senate Bill 173 removes barriers to students to get subsidies under Cal Fresh, in part by streamlining the application process.
More than 50,000 California college students could be enrolled in food assistance thanks to the senator’s legislation.
The California Welfare Directors Association, the County of Yolo, student groups and area food banks support the bill.
“Sadly, ‘starving students’ is more than a cliché for many food insecure California college students,” said Don Saylor, chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. “We applaud Sen. Dodd for his leadership in combating student hunger on college campuses.”
Sen. Bill Dodd represents California’s Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. You can learn more about Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.
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- Written by: California Attorney General's Office
CUSO provided private loans for students to attend the now-defunct, predatory ITT Technical Institute, or ITT Tech.
With substantial assistance from CUSO, ITT Tech conducted a coordinated scheme to misdirect student borrowers towards expensive student loans that borrowers struggled to repay.
The settlement will provide $168 million in relief to 22,000 borrowers – 4,000 of whom are in California. Many of these students were low-income and the targets of aggressive and misleading sales tactics by the school.
“ITT Tech, aided by CUSO, ripped off thousands of students in this illegal and coordinated scam,” said Attorney General Becerra. “In addition to grossly overcharging vulnerable students for a sham education, the companies guided students toward expensive and unwieldy loans that were nearly impossible to pay back. Students should by worrying about homework, not predators looking to exploit them for a quick buck.”
ITT Tech – one of the most expensive for-profit post-secondary institutions – received revenues from student tuition and fees.
As required by federal law known as the 90/10 Rule, private for-profit schools may receive no more than 90 percent of their revenue from federal public loans, with the remainder originating from other sources.
ITT Tech enlisted CUSO to provide ITT Tech students with private loans for this purpose. It then steered borrowers toward the lender. This scheme was designed for ITT Tech to enhance its financial statements, its appearance with investors, and to facilitate compliance with the 90/10 Rule.
The loan program issued $189 million in loans to ITT Tech students between 2009 and 2011. ITT Tech staff targeted students through aggressive tactics, including pulling students from class, withholding course material or transcripts, and rushing students through financial aid appointments.
The company projected that more than 60 percent of students would default on the loans, which carried interest rates as high as 16.25 percent.
These loans covered tuition gaps for which ITT Tech had previously offered short-term loans called “temporary credits.” Temporary credits were zero-interest loans payable in nine months, but were presented to students as loans payable upon graduation.
The credits had a high default rate, as students were unable to repay the full amount in such a short time. By extending loans through CUSO, ITT Tech could remove these unpaid credit balances from its financial reports.
Besides requirements that CUSO provide $168 million to student borrowers, the settlement includes restitution and borrower relief. CUSO will cease conducting business, including acquiring or issuing student loans, and cease all collection activities.
CUSO will also cancel all outstanding balances of consumer loan accounts and will direct credit reporting agencies to delete these balances from consumers’ credit reports. CUSO will implement a consumer redress plan to notify consumers of the settlement.
A copy of the final judgment can be found here.