Glendale Community College

To qualify for GCC’s Promise Plus program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Full-time status in the fall/spring semesters
• Complete the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADA)
• Be a California resident by the start of the summer/fall semester
• Enroll in our one-week Summer Bridge course for orientation

The Summer Bridge program is designed help new students make the most of their first year in college.

Opportunities include:

• Attending a new student orientation

• Developing a first-year plan of classes depending on your major and goals

• Securing your first semester schedule of classes in reserved or general-population sections

• Learning about support programs, clubs, and activities you can be a part of

• Help finding student employment for those who’d like to work

• Taking “Student Development 101: College Success Strategies”, a 1-unit CSU transferrable class paid for by the Promise Plus program after you enroll full time for Fall (taught by a GCC Counselor)

Yes, you can sign up for other classes in addition to the summer bridge orientation course. However, the Promise Plus will only cover the fees and tuition costs of the one-unit student development course. You will have to pay the tuition costs for the additional courses out of pocket during the summer.

Yes, you can start the program in the spring semester. GCC will cover tuition (excluding fees) for Spring 24’, Fall 24’, and Spring 25’. Additionally, you must complete one of the specified courses (ST DV 101, ST DV 125, or ST DV 127) during the Spring 24' semester. Funding for each student is unique and will look different for each student, but you will still remain part of the community. Make sure to connect with financial aid to understand your unique situation with CCPG, pell grants or other funding sources.

• Fall semester Promise Plus students have access to sections of commonly needed (General Education) classes reserved just for first-year students. There’s no need to worry about waitlists or registration dates for students who are connected before or during summer with Promise Plus.

• Fall reserved courses are designed to help students both explore fields they may
  be interested in but also progress toward completion on a 2-year timeframe. They also have instructors trained to work with the first-year students and to collaborate with the counseling team for students who may have difficulties.

• Fall required class, Student Development 125: Career Planning – to help students connect their interests with transfer and employment goals, OR 
  Student Development 127: Majors Exploration – to help students connect their goals with their specific majors and transfer or career strategy. 

• Promise Plus students have access to specially trained Promise Plus/FYE counselors who actively check in on them and who are a go-to resource if they encounter trouble along the way

• Spring semester of the first year continues with some reserved class sections, but includes more help in finding and exploring a higher percentage of major-specific course
  
  
• During the fall and spring semesters, student will complete a success activity. This creates the opportunity for students to engage with the campus community

• Throughout the first year, if students become interested in joining programs with
  additional support and resources like our EOPS or Disabled Student programs, Promise Plus staff will help them join and keep the overall GCC experience seamless.

• Promise Plus will also help students get an on-campus job or otherwise connect with financial resources like scholarships, internships, additional financial aid, food, etc.

• The Promise Plus SYE includes continued tuition and fee assistance and the active counseling element. The difference is that each semester’s class line up will change as each student becomes more focused on their own educational and career pathways.

• Promise Plus will continue to help students connect with their learning communities while also encouraging active participation. For example, we can offer student worker jobs guaranteed if they’re “aligned” with learning pathways, such as research assistants, tutors in their major subjects, etc.

• Second year Promise Plus students will also have a chance to become peer mentors as an option for getting involved with their campus community.

• The SYE will also include counselors reminding and encouraging students to participate in activities geared toward helping them prepare for life after GCC.
  Examples are interviewing and resume workshops for those entering the workforce, or transfer application and essay writing workshops for transfer-minded students.