SMC Promise FAQ

SMC Promise students who submitted a FAFSA must ALSO be eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver in order to be eligible for the SMCP book voucher. If a student can not use the book voucher on the SMC Bookstore website (and the deadline hasn't passed), but the student's financial aid portal in Corsair Connect shows that they are receiving the CCPG fee waiver for 2023-2024, please contact the Welcomecenter@smc.edu. 

Note: ONLY the Financial Aid office can see student financial aid records and make changes to profiles. Welcome Center staff can only view general information that students already have access to.

Students who have questions about completing their FAFSA or need additional information about what documents they may need to submit (after viewing their financial aid portal in Corsair Connect) can contact the Financial Aid office. 

Note: ONLY the Financial Aid office can see student financial aid records and make changes to profiles. Welcome Center staff can only view general information that students already have access to.

Since SMC Promise requires students to complete 12+ units/ DSPS Unit Requirement during the Fall and Spring semesters, counselors are available to help students remain at full-time status. SMC Promise students can work with an academic counselor to make sure they are taking the correct classes for their educational goal and their correct skill level, to ensure successful completion.

Students can connect with a counselor by visiting the General Counseling webpage.

REGAin ELIGIBILITY

• SMC Promise students who do not complete 12 units/ DSPS unit reduction in Fall or Spring semester (or received a F / NP/ W/ EW), may become eligible for the future semesters by making up the units in the subsequent short term semester. Only students that meet the SMC Promise Requirements at the deadline, Spring 2024 SMCP requirement deadline of April 20th, 2024, will qualify to Regain Eligibility. Example; student fell out during the Spring semester, can make up the deficit in units during the Summer session. Class fees will be due if a student does not qualify for a CCPG- Fee Waiver.
• Student must have a minimum of 12 units/ DSPS unit reduction completed with grades of A, B, C, D or P (W, I, IP, SP NP grades do not count) between Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 to regain for Fall 2024. 
• Eligibility will be updated once final grades for the “make-up” class/units are posted to the student’s transcript.

• Funding eligibility for inter-session courses (i.e., Winter and Summer) is unchanged. Most students making up units will generally need to pay out-of-pocket, unless they are receiving the CCPG fee waiver. 

To get your physical student ID card, follow these steps:

1. Verify/Update mailing address in Corsair Connect
2. Contact the Cashier's Office (cashier@smc.edu) from your SMC student email account and include all of the following required info:
   1. identifiable passport-style photo of yourself
   2. identifiable photo of your valid state ID or Passport
   3. your full name, that matches what was used on the SMC application
   4. your SMC ID number

Once the Cashier's Office has received, reviewed, and verified your email, your SMC ID card will be created and sent to the mailing address on file in Corsair Connect within a few business days. It is not the responsibility of SMC to verify mailing addresses, so please be sure to do this BEFORE submitting an email request for your ID card. 

For more information about SMC ID cards, please visit the Cashier's Office webpage.

 

Once deemed eligible, your voucher is immediately available to use at the Bookstore.  For more information, please refer to the Book Voucher 101 webpage.

Yes. The book voucher may be used only during the semester it is awarded by the specific deadline above.

To use it for purchasing required books and materials in the online SMC Bookstore, you  just need to create an account with the online SMC Bookstore website and then select A/R Charge at checkout as the payment method.

Yes, you can contact the SMC Bookstore (bookstore@smc.edu) with your SMC Bookstore receipt and SMC student ID number to request a refund.

No. If you were already issued a book voucher but you didn't end up passing your classes, there will not be a need to repay the price of the books/materials.

Additionally, not completing the unit requirement does not automatically exempt you from being eligible to receive the book voucher in future terms. You will still be eligible as long as you maintain eligibility for the CCPG fee waiver and meet the requirements for the SMC Promise program as a whole.

No, vouchers are attached to specific SMC Promise students and can not be transferred.

No, these vouchers are only usable in the SMC Bookstore.

The book voucher may be used online at the SMC Bookstore or at the SMC Book Store.

Only if they are on the list of required materials submitted by the instructor to the Bookstore. You may also use it to purchase the SMC Promise Starter Kit.

Students eligible for a second year of SMC Promise will still get the book voucher.

Yes. You will get confirmation of being an SMC Promise student once you complete the necessary form on Corsair Connect. An email confirmation will follow.

Proof that you attended a California high school and received your GED/CPP in 2023/2024 is required to qualify. Provide your documentation to Admissions and let them know you qualify for the SMC Promise.

No. Only students graduating high school in the previous academic year qualify for the SMC Promise. A gap year will disqualify you from eligibility. You can email the Welcomecenter@smc.edu to potentially gain eligibility into the SMC Promise via SMC Promise Special Consideration.

All California high schools, public and private are eligible.

Students must stay enrolled in 12 units throughout the semester to qualify. Dropping below 12 units may disqualify you from SMC Promise in future terms, if the units are not made up in a Winter/Summer session, by participating in Regain Eligibility. You can view this Regain Eligibility Guide for more information.

Before you drop classes, see a counselor for assistance to help you remain eligible. Failure to meet SMC Promise requirements may also result in you having to pay your fees or to repay any fees SMC may have already covered. A hold will be placed on your record until the fees are paid back.

If you are an eligible student, go to Corsair Connect where you will see a popup message informing you of how to accept the award. If you do not see this message, you are not eligible. If you believe you are, send an email to WelcomeCenter@smc.edu.

Effective with students starting in Fall 2020, SMC Promise student may make up the units during Winter, but Spring eligibility will be determined after the final grade for the class is posted to the transcript. 

Example:
Student completed 9 out of the 12 units in fall. This would normally result in the loss of SMCP starting spring. However, student may now enroll and complete a minimum of 3 units in Winter to make up the unit deficiency. Together (Fall + Winter), the student would have the required 12 units completed for ongoing eligibility.

 

While it is to your advantage to repeat the class as soon as possible to improve your academic or progress standing, you are not specifically required to repeat the class during the Winter session. You may instead enroll in any class, especially if it's in your education plan. The bottom line is that you need to make up the unit deficiency to retain SMCP eligibility. 

To qualify during your second year of school, you must complete 12 units in Fall and Spring in your first year, and reapply for FAFSA or DREAM Act before the start of the first term of your second year.

*NOTE: Eligible students with disabilities may be approved for fewer than 12 units as a reasonable accommodation. Contact the Center for Students with Disabilities in Room SSC-155 at 310-434-4265 for more information.

Unfortunately not. State policy for the program mandates that only high school graduates who have no prior college experience are allowed to participate in SMC Promise. And since students in the High School Concurrent program (HSCP) are still in high school taking real college courses for credit, they're disqualified.

However, students in the HSCP can still have an opportunity to have their tuition waived after they graduate high school through the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) Fee Waiver. Students can apply for the CCPG through their FAFSA or DREAM Act application, and if they qualify, will have their tuition waived for the whole year (summer to summer), regardless of their college experience. You can find more information about the CCPG on the Financial Aid website.

All Promise students will still see their fees listed in their portal until the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, after they have passed at least 12 units with an A, B, C, D, or P (pass). 

If Promise students need to take advantage of Regain Eligibility, then the enrollment fees will be waived after that is completed.

Free enrollment eligibility is guaranteed as long as you complete all requirements, including enrolling and completing a minimum of 12 units each semester. You will also be eligible for summer and winter of the academic year, provided you enroll and complete 12 or more units.

Only students that paid out of pocket, are eligible for SMCP, and met the SMCP requirements at the perspective semester requirement deadline will qualify for a refund. You will receive a refund up to 45 days after the term has ended. For questions about refunds, please contact the Cashier's Office.

No. The SMC Promise will only pay for your fees if you enroll in your required number of units. Unfortunately, during the short-term semesters, such as Summer and Winter, you can only enroll into max of 8 units. If you have a CCPG- Fee Waiver, via the financial aid process, this will pay for your Enrollment Fees for the semesters in which you are not meeting the SMC Promise Unit Requirements. Keep in mind the short- term semesters are Optional to attend.

Yes, all student fees are covered.

If you are eligible for the second year of SMC Promise AND qualify for the California College Promise (CCPG) fee waiver, then you will receive the book voucher and free enrollment for the second year.