Student Support Services

This policy shall apply to all students, employees, volunteers, vendors, consultants, agents, contractors, and visitors on Los Medanos College property as defined above. Consistent with Government Code 7597.1, the Governing Board has imposed fines and set enforcement standards for Los Medanos College in order to ensure a tobacco-free environment.

Los Medanos College recognizes the health hazards associated with tobacco addiction. Los Medanos College also recognizes the challenges faced by those addicted to tobacco products and therefore supports efforts of employees and students to quit using tobacco products. Any student who needs information about cessation programs may consult a college counselor, who can provide the student with information about available resources.

Adherence to our tobacco-free policy relies, in large part, on the initiative of students and staff to politely request that smokers comply and on the courtesy of smokers to acknowledge and observe the restrictions. Los Medanos College promotes the initiative of educating others about the hazards of smoking and will endeavor to educate rather than punish. In the absence of compliance, however, any student who violates the policy may be subject to citation and disciplinary measures in accordance with the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct and Governing Board policy. Visitors to Los Medanos College who do not comply with this policy may be cited and/or asked to leave Los Medanos College property.

Evening, Weekend and Online Courses

Most of the courses LMC offers are scheduled for weekdays, and during both daytime and evening hours. The College also provides weekend and online courses. Short-term classes are offered, and may start at various times throughout a semester.

Opportunities are available for those who may want to broaden their general education, wish to learn or improve a vocational skill, and those who are working toward a college degree, and/or transfer to a four-year university.

Help Along the Way: Student Support Services

Assessment Center

www.losmedanos.edu/assessment (925) 473-7438 The Assessment Center provides a Guided Self Placement (GSP) process for Math, English and English as a Second Language (ESL). Students receive their placement recommendations by answering the GSP questions about their academic history on the online form. Students may also elect to use AP Scores, high school or college transcripts from regionally accredited institutions and schools for placement by submitting their records to the Admissions & Records Office online. To submit academic records to the Admission & Records Office online, students should use the Prerequisite Equivalency Request Form located in InSite under the red tile titled “LMC Student Forms.” Placement is required for all students who plan to earn an associate degree, transfer to a four-year institution, or enroll in certain Math, English or ESL courses with prerequisites. To obtain an early registration date, students must develop an educational plan, and complete both the college orientation and placement process.

Career Services –

see Transfer & Career Services, Page 142

Counseling Services

www.losmedanos.edu/counseling (925) 473-7450 (Pittsburg Campus, dial 7-digit number) (925) 513-1625 (Brentwood Center) The Department’s work is a partnership with students and grounded in a deep respect for the unique intellectual, psychological, socio-cultural and life experiences of each student. All members of the Department promote the holistic development of students with the goals of: 1) Enhancing critical thinking skills and applying them to real life problems; 2) Clarifying career goals and defining educational pathways that lead to them; 3) Encouraging social accountability which enables students to more clearly see how their individual choices affects others; 4) Encouraging adaptability, a life skill that enables students to resolve conflict by modifying personal attitudes and behaviors; and, 5) Celebrating student resilience, the capacity to drawn on internal resources and remain goal-focused while experiencing life challenges.

Through instruction, academic advising, and a range of services, the Counseling Department assists students with the process of defining their individual pathway, which involves selecting a career goal (college professor, pediatric nurse), an area of study (e.g., business, biology), mapping a sequence of courses or an education plan that will lead to the attainment of a specific educational goal (e.g., certificate, degrees, transfer) that and creating an educational plan or sequence of courses that lead to goal completion.

The Department currently offers the following courses-- Orientation To College (COUNS 030), Educational Planning (COUNS 031), Introduction to Career Development (COUNS 032), Transfer Planning (COUNS 033), College Success (COUNS 034) Theories and Application of Learning in College (COUNS 035), Career & Life Planning (COUNS 36), MESA/SEM Scholars Success (COUNS 045), and Independent Study in Counseling (COUNS 098). Advising services focus on such general areas as: 1. Exploration of solutions to personal and educational problems 2. Exploration of vocational and career choices

3. Exploration of vocational majors offered at LMC 4. Exploration of majors offered at four-year institutions 5. Advice concerning general education requirements 6. Advice concerning major and transfer requirements 7. Assistance in adjusting to College 8. Assistance in developing effective study habits and study skills 9. Assistance in developing an educational plan—abbreviated and comprehensive 10. Referrals for mental health support include services offered both in-person and online by the Student Wellness and

Program and Confidential Student Assistance Program.

Additionally, TimelyMD offers 24/7 medical and mental telehealth services (TimelyCARE). All services are offered at no-cost to students enrolled at Los Medanos College.

Disabled Students Program and Services

www.losmedanos.edu/dsps (925) 473-7471 | TDD (925) 439-5709 DSPSoffice@losmedanos.edu The Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) provides reasonable academic accommodations and auxiliary aids and specialized instruction to individuals with verified disabilities. To ensure equality of access for students with disabilities, academic accommodations and auxiliary aids shall be provided to the extent necessary to comply with state and federal law regulations. For each student, academic accommodations and auxiliary aids shall specifically address those functional limitations of the disability that adversely affect equal educational opportunity.

Services may include educational counseling and planning, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, sign language interpreting and captioning services, note takers, scribes, textbooks in audio and alternate format, instructional material in alternate format, testing accommodations (including alternate format), and priority registration. All services are elective and must be requested by the student. Some accommodations require advance appointments.

Substitution Policy

When the severity of the disability of an otherwise qualified student precludes successful completion of a course required for graduation from LMC, despite an earnest effort on the part of the student to complete the course and despite provisions of academic accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, a course substitution shall be considered. Contact the Disabled Student Program & Services office for more information on policies and procedures.

Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS)

www.losmedanos.edu/eops (925) 473-7480 EOPS is state-funded program that exists to increase the enrollment, retention, persistence, and success rates of lowincome students from educationally disadvantage backgrounds. To qualify for EOPS, one must: 1) be a California resident; 2) be enrolled full-time at LMC; 3) qualify for a California College Promise Grant (CCPG) fee waiver (A or B); 4) have earned less than 70 degree-applicable units; and, 5) demonstrate an academic disadvantage (for example, if neither parent earned a four-year college degree). By partnering with EOPS, students are eligible for academic and financial support services that are above, beyond, and in addition to services available to all LMC students, such as priority registration, parking permits, transfer application fee waivers to public and private colleges and universities, academic and personal counseling, calculator loans and book vouchers.

CARE

www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/eops/care (925) 473-7480 Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) is a state-funded program that exists to increase the enrollment, retention, persistence, and success of EOPS students who are single parents with a child 13-year-old or younger, participating in the TANF/CalWORKs program. By partnering with EOPS, CARE students benefit from an additional layer of academic and financial support services such as—cash grants, personal life development workshops, childcare provided through the LMC Child Study Center.

CalWORKs

(925) 473-7482 The CalWORKs program is a state-funded program that designed to help students that receive TANF/CalWORKs services successfully transition from welfare-dependency to long-term self-sufficiency. The CalWORKs team works directly with students to develop educational plans with specified majors, while offering additional services, e.g., work study, job placement, childcare assistance, work-ready skill-building activities, supply kits, book vouchers, parking permits, oneto-one and group counseling, and priority registration. All services are designed to ensure that students enrollment, successfully complete classes, maintain enrollment and focus on career and educational goals. To promote student success, the program encourages CalWORKs students to devise strategies for overcoming obstacles that draw on personal strengths and external resources.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Program

www.losmedanos.edu/financialaid (925) 473-7525 www.losmedanos.edu/scholarship (925) 473-7518 The Los Medanos College Office of Financial Aid, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Title IV of the Higher Education Act of l965, P.L. 89-329, as amended and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, mental or physical handicaps, age, or sex in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

Financial Aid is a means of assisting students to receive a college education who would otherwise be unable to afford this opportunity. Students to be helped are those who show the most financial need and who demonstrate the desire and ability to achieve academic goals and complete a course of study in a degree or certificate program.

There are several grants available to students. Qualifications, availability, and limits vary. Please visit the Financial Aid Office website for more information. types of grants available to students:

• California Promise Grant

• Federal Pell Grant

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) • Federal Work-Study • Cal Grant B

• Cal Grant C

• Student Success Completion Grant • California Chafee Grant • First-Time + Full-Time = Free Tuition (FT3 Program)

There are three types of financial aid: • Grants – awards that a student does not have to repay unless student drops all classes before completing 60% of the semester or drops below half-time status between the first and second payments, and/or is a no-show for one or more of the classes.

• Federal Work-Study – part-time work earned on a monthly basis.

• Loans – low interest government loans that students can borrow and must be repaid with interest.

Basic Requirements

To be eligible, for Federal Aid, students must meet certain requirements: • Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. • Be enrolled in an eligible program working toward a degree or certificate (an associate degree or transfer program to a four-year school or a certificate program that meets requirements). • Have a high school diploma, a GED Certificate, or a home school certificate.

• Not be in default on a Federal student loan or owe a repayment on a Federal grant.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

All students are encouraged to apply for all forms of Federal and State financial aid programs offered at Los Medanos College by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov.

The FAFSA should be completed beginning October 1 and no later than March 2 to meet priority filing date. Students must reapply each year to continue receiving funding. 1. Complete a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)” online at www.fafsa.gov. 2. If you complete the FAFSA you will also be automatically considered for the California College Promise Grant fee waiver which waives or refunds your enrollment fees (assuming you are a California resident). You do not have to file a separate (CCPG) application. 3. If you want only your fees paid or refunded, you can complete the shorter CCPG fee waiver form online using OpenCCC, www.losmedanos.edu/financialaid/apps.asp. Next, click on

“CCPG Application".

State financial aid programs are available to AB540 students. AB540 students are encouraged to complete the California Dream Act application online at dream.csac.ca.gov.

California College Promise Grant Program

All California residents and AB540 students are encouraged to apply for a state-funded California College Promise Grant (CCPG), which waives or refunds your enrollment fees.

Students who complete the FAFSA or Dream Act application

will automatically be considered for the CC Promise Grant fee waiver. Students will be considered for one of the fee waivers as follows:

CCPG – A:

You or your family are receiving public assistance from CalWORKs/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or General Assistance/ General Relief.

CCPG – B:

You must meet the following income criteria for the 2021-2022 academic year:

Family Size Base Year Income

1 $19,140 2 $25,860 3 $32,580 4 $39,300 5 $46,020 6 $52,740 7 $59,460 8 $66,180 Each Additional Family Member: $6,720 * These standards are based upon the federal poverty guidelines, as published each year by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Under Title 5 of the California Code of

Regulations, the student or student’s family must have a total income in the prior prior year that is equal to or less than 150% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty

Guidelines based on family size.

The base year is defined as the income year used for the determination of an expected family contribution (EFC) for federal Title IV student financial aid unless professional judgement is exercised by a financial aid office to use the current year income.

CCPG – C:

You have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and you have “Financial Need” as defined by the Department of Education located on your Student Aid Report.

CCPG-D:

You may qualify for CCPG D if the financial aid office has verified you have been without a residence in the last 24 months (homeless).

CCPG – F:

You must have certification from the California Department of Veteran Affairs.

Beginning with the Fall 2018 semester, there are minimum academic progress standards that must be met for continued eligibility for the CCPG. • Academic standards: sustain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher • Progress standards: cumulative satisfactory completion of more that 50% of all coursework attempted.

Students with extenuating circumstances are given an opportunity to appeal.

Deadlines

To get the best aid available, apply early. Students whose applications are completed by March 2 will receive priority for some limited funds and can apply for certain state programs.

If this deadline has already passed, don’t panic! Students may still be eligible for significant assistance—like a Pell Grant and a CCPG Waiver. If you decide not to accept any program on your Financial Aid Award Notification Letter, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid Disbursement

If you have a Federal Work-Study job, you will receive a monthly pay check for the hours you work. Contra Costa Community College District offices will mail out Student’s Financial Aid Disbursement Checks, according to the agreed upon Districtwide Financial Aid Processing Schedule. Students can also select a refund preference with BankMobile. For more information, visit http://www.4cd.edu/bankmobile or http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/.

Refund and Repayment

A “student refund” is money you receive if you pay fees and then drop out of Los Medanos College during the refund period. All LMC students receive 100% refund of fees if they drop by the refund period. If subsequent to paying enrollment fees the student is eligible for the CCPG, the student will automatically be mailed a full refund check or a credit card credit will be issued according to the same refund processing cycle as enrollment fee refunds. Students who qualify for the CCPG, are exempt from the portion of parking fees that exceeds thirty dollars ($30) per semester.

A “repayment” is money you may owe to the Federal programs if you received money for your indirect expenses (like rent, food, etc.,) and dropped all classes before completing 60% of the semester. The Office of Financial Aid will calculate the percentage of Federal Aid that you have “earned”, according to the day you withdrew. Note: If you withdraw after you have earned 60% of your Financial Aid, you will not have to repay any of the Financial Aid money that you received. Otherwise, you must make the repayment when notified.

Scholarship Program

A scholarship is considered a gift of money to assist a student in financing their higher education. LMC scholarships are provided to students by the generosity of the LMC Foundation, corporations and individual donors. Generally, scholarships may be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, community involvement, athletic talents, and field of study. The amount available for individual students and scholarships may vary.

Health Services Referral

Information on a variety of topics related to social, emotional and academic challenges may be obtained by calling LMC Counseling Department at Pittsburg (925) 473-7450.

It is the student’s responsibility to assume all expenses involving injury or illness.

Students who have a medical condition that might require immediate action (e.g., diabetes, bee sting allergy, epilepsy, etc.) should inform their instructors and also contact Police Services, CC1-132, (925) 473-7332.

Student Life

Student Union www.losmedanos.edu/studentlife (925) 473-7554 LMC offers a range of extracurricular activities for students. These activities help students make friendships, connect with faculty and staff outside of the classroom, and build their leadership skills in clubs and organizations.

Mission Statement

The Office of Student Life provides leadership opportunities that support students in becoming agents of positive social change and responsible members of a diverse and global society.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who participate in activities offered through Office of Student Life will: 1. Student Life Associates will be able to demonstrate strong leadership skills in planning and implementation of sponsored events by the Office of Student Life. 2. LMCAS students will understand shared governance by participation on committees and be able to engage in thoughtful discussion regarding funding initiatives and programs.

Bulletin Boards

The Office of Student Life supervises and authorizes all campus publicity on official Student Life bulletin boards throughout the Pittsburg Campus. All individuals or organizations wishing to post on these LMC bulletin boards must bring 10 copies of their postings directly to the Office of Student Life (GA-1) or through campus mail to mailbox #63, for approval and posting. Postings will also be forwarded for posting at the Brentwood Center.

Leadership Programs

www.losmedanos.edu/studentlife/prog.aspx The Office of Student Life provides a variety of leadership development programs and opportunities to support the many student leaders engaged throughout the fabric of LMC. These programs include orientations, workshops, courses for credit, campus retreats, trips to regional conferences, film discussions and more. All LMC students are welcome and encouraged to participate in the many opportunities provided by the Office.

Student Government (LMCAS)

www.losmedanos.edu/lmcas The Los Medanos College Associated Students (LMCAS) is the official student government at LMC. Their primary purpose is to advance the welfare of all students. They do this by providing programs and services designed to meet the varied needs of students, sponsoring activities and events, and representing the student body on many College and District committees.

The LMCAS Student Senate holds open public meetings every week and members of the student government are regularly available for consultation in the Office of Student Life.

Student Clubs & Organizations

www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/clubs Students are encouraged to organize and participate in clubs that reflect their interests. Each club is registered with the Student Life Office and has a faculty/staff advisor who helps organize meetings and plan activities.

The Office of Student Life provides support and advising to all LMC clubs by holding orientations and retreats for club leaders. In addition, the office advises and coordinates the Inter-Club Council (ICC), the coordinating body for many of the clubs. ICC members collaborate on joint club events and recommend the allocation of funds to support club activities. Contact the Office of Student Life to join a club or start one of your own!

Student Life Associates

Student Life Associates are a select group of student leaders who represent the diverse population of Los Medanos College. These student leaders support student engagement on campus by supporting the planning, production, and marketing of a variety of events and activities in Student Life each year.

Student Success & Retention Programs (SSRP)

www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/engage/index.aspx (925) 473- 7483 The Office of Student Success & Retention Programs is dedicated to ensuring a transformative educational experience for all students by building a comprehensive network of integrated services and resources that promotes academic, personal, and social success. The mission of the Office of Student Success and Retention Programs is to educate students on how to return back to good academic standing, support students in choosing and declaring a major, and to encourage students who are academically under prepared. In addition, we work towards identifying resources to support student success as students work towards achieving their academic and career goals.

Transfer & Career Services

www.losmedanos.edu/transfercareer (925) 473-7444 Transfer & Career Services provides a variety of career development and exploration services to all students as well as information for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Support services are available to help students explore and plan for transfer and career success.

Career Services

Transfer & Career Services provides information and programming that assists students in exploring majors and careers, preparing for job and internship searches through resume, cover letter and interview assistance, and best practices on-the-job for new professionals. Individual appointments are available with a career counselor to discuss career exploration, ideas and goals.