Students in front of the student services building
February, 2016
In This Issue
Quick Links
Transfer
ATTENTION WRITERS AND ARTISTS!

Call for submissions
Do you enjoy writing poetry or short stories?  Do you paint or draw?  Contra Costa Community College District is offering students and employees an opportunity to publish your work in the new district literary magazine, The Optimist

Here are the guidelines for submissions: 
  • Poetry -- submit up to three poems in MS Word document format
  • Fiction -- submit a short story (maximum of 3,000 words) in MS Word document format, double spaced, 12-point font
  • Art -- send a JPEG of a painting or drawing
Send your submissions to [email protected] with the genre of your submission - poetry, fiction or art - in the subject line.  All work must be submitted by April 15th.

Questions?  Contact Ben Jahn at [email protected]

IMPORTANT DATES
  • February 19 -- Last day to request Pass/No Pass on courses marked SC (Student Choice)
  • February 29 -- Last day to submit early Summer 2016 graduation application to receive early Summer 2016 registration appointment
  • March 1 -- Last day to apply for Spring 2016 graduation
  • March 1 -- first day to submit early Fall 2016 graduation application to receive early Fall 2016 registration appointment
  • March 21 - 27 -- Spring Break - no classes 
More important dates
ADMISSIONS & GRADUATION NEWS
Fall 2015 Graduates
If you applied for Fall 2015 graduation and successfully completed your graduation requirements, you should have received your diploma. If you did not receive your diploma, please contact Admissions & Records.
2016 Graduation Ceremony
This year's graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 27 at the football stadium. Students who have applied for graduation and completed their requirements during the Summer 2015, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters will be invited to attend the ceremony. More information will be available soon on the Commencement Ceremony webpage.  
Graduation Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for Spring 2016 graduation is March 1. Graduation is not an automatic process and the deadline cannot be extended! Please be sure to see your counselor to make sure you are ready to graduate. You can also use Student Planning to check your progress. More graduation information and application 
Early Application for Graduation
Do you know you can apply one semester early for graduation to receive an earlier registration appointment for your last semester at LMC? That early registration appointment will give you a much better chance of getting into the last classes you need for graduation. 

For Summer 2016: If you plan to complete your certificate or degree requirements in Summer 2016, you may submit an Early Graduation Application through February 29 and receive an early registration appointment for summer. If you want to walk in the Spring 2015 commencement ceremony, you can fill out an additional form that will be available in mid-April. Watch the website for more details. For more information, review Graduation Policies.

For Fall 2016:
 If you plan to complete your certificate or degree requirements in Fall 2016, you may submit your Early Graduation Application beginning March 1 and receive an early registration appointment for fall. Students completing academic requirements in the fall will not participate in the Spring 2015 Commencement Ceremony. For more information, review Graduation Policies.
 
Changes to Enrollment Priorities
The California Community College Board of Governors approved changes effective Fall 2014 that establish system-wide enrollment priorities designed to ensure classes are available for students seeking job training, degree attainment or transfer, and to reward students who make progress toward their educational goals. New students who have completed college orientation, assessment and developed education plans, as well as continuing students in good academic standing who have not exceeded 100 units (not including units in basic English and Math or English as a Second Language), will have priority over students who do not meet these criteria.
 
As a result of the new regulations, students on probation and/or dismissal for two or more consecutive semesters or who have completed 100 or more degree applicable units within the district will not be eligible for priority enrollment. If you are on probation for two or more consecutive semesters or have completed 100 or more degree applicable units at the time of Summer 2016 registration, you will lose your priority enrollment status.
FINANCIAL AID UPDATES

2016-2017 FAFSA & California Dream Act Applications
Planning to enroll in classes for the next academic year?  It's time to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application for 2016-2017! Both applications are now available.  The priority deadline is March 2, 2016.  Apply online at FAFSA.ed.gov or https://dream.csac.ca.gov/.

deadline image
Cal Grant Award Deadline

To be considered for a 2016-2017 Cal Grant award, the following documents must be submitted  (postmarked) by March 2, 2016:
  1. A 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a 2016-2017 California Dream Act Application.
  2. A certified Cal Grant Grade Point Average (GPA) form to the California Student Aid Commission.
Please note that the California Student Aid Commission will not process any GPAs that may have been submitted in prior years. In order for a student to be considered for a 2016-2017 Cal Grant award, a new GPA form must be received by the commission by the stated deadline.


For more information, visit the California Student Aid Commission website.

Financial Aid workshops
You have the power to shape your future! Attend a free Financial Aid workshop and learn about all of the financial aid options available for students pursuing higher education, including the various state and federal grants. Then receive hands-on assistance to create your FSA ID and password, and to complete the FAFSA online and the California Dream Act application. All workshops will be held in the FAFSA LAB, Room 309 in the Student Services Center.

Financial Aid Workshop schedule

Financial Aid Labs in Pittsburg & Brentwood
Did you know that the Office of Financial Aid provides assistance to students at the Financial Aid Labs at both the Pittsburg Campus and the Brentwood Center?  The Pittsburg lab is located in the Financial Aid Office, Room SS3-309 and the Brentwood lab is located in the Brentwood Financial Aid Office, Room C-2. At the labs you can receive assistance with:
  • Creating an FSA ID and password
  • Completing a New FAFSA or renewal
  • Completing a California Dream Act Application

Changes to the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGFW) Program
Beginning with the Fall 2016 semester, there will be minimum academic progress standards that must be met for continued eligibility for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program (BOGFW). Please note that these standards are different and separate from federal student aid's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The academic and progress standards for the BOGFW are:
  • Academic standards: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Progress standards: Cumulative satisfactory completion of more than 50% of all coursework attempted.
Students who do not meet the standards listed above for two consecutive primary semesters (fall and spring) will lose eligibility for the BOGFW. If you become ineligible for the BOGFW, you will be notified within 30 days after the end of the Spring 2016 semester. The college will send a communication to those students who failed to meet the standards for two consecutive primary semesters and will include instructions on how to appeal loss of the BOGFW. Please note that this appeal is separate from any appeal for federal student aid, and the approval of one appeal will not mean the automatic approval of the other.

If you need more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office or go to BOGFW Program Changes.

TRANSFER & CAREER SERVICES

 
Transfer Reminder

If you need your associate degree or IGETC verified for your university of transfer, make sure to go to Admissions and Records before March 1!
 
University Tours 
Great university tours are open for registration now!
  • San Jose State University - Friday, February 26
  • University of Nevada, Reno - Friday, March 4
  • UC Davis - Friday, March 11
Register for university tours here

Internship Preparation Workshop Series
Trying to figure out your career direction? Looking for ways you can build job skills this summer?  Come to one or all of our "How to...Get Ready for Internships!" workshops to get started in the right direction for summer and beyond. Learn how to build a resume, prepare for interviews, and more!  More information about the intern program 

Stay up to date on Transfer & Career Services at LMC! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!   

STUDENT LIFE NEWS

Alpha Gamma Sigma 5K Run
Alpha Gamma Sigma presents "Never Leave a Comrade Behind", a 5k Run/Walk to benefit Veterans, on Saturday, April 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. More information and registration about the 5K run 

11th Annual Academic Competition
The Academic Competition is a one-day event designed to motivate students to achieve scholarly excellence at LMC. It is also a fun and interactive way for students to compete for scholarships. The competition consists of four rounds of multiple-choice questions. All test questions are provided by LMC professors. The winners of the competition are announced at the end of the event.

Form a team of at least five friends and enter together! Applications will be available at the Student Life Office and on the Student Life website beginning the week of February 22.

BRENTWOOD CENTER NEWS

tutors
Student Services at Brentwood Center

Did you know there is a Student Services Office at the Brentwood Center where you can get answers to all your questions about LMC programs and services?  We are here to help you reach your educational goals! Located in the front office, our hours are: 
  • Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  
Our friendly office staff are waiting for you to stop by with your questions, comments and concerns.  We offer a variety of services on site, including admissions, counseling and financial aid, to name just a few!  Stop by soon! See a complete list of student services at Brentwood Center
 
Tutoring Services 
The Tutoring Center is now open!  Get a jump on your studies by taking advantage of free tutoring services offered in the Center for Academic Support, Room 13.  We offer drop-in peer tutoring in many subject areas, as well as one-on-one reading and writing support services offered by English faculty.  Take a look at the schedule of services posted outside the door to Room 13, or check us out on the Brentwood Center website. To schedule a one-on-one appointment for reading and writing services, just stop by the office or call (925) 513-1625. 

Technical Support  
Do you ever have problems with printing or wifi access on campus?  Stop by the Brentwood Center office and we'll do our best to help you troubleshoot. 

LIBRARY NEWS

Science magazine online
The Library is excited to introduce two new online databases!
 
Oxford Music Online contains the full text of several music reference works, most importantly Grove Music Online, The Oxford Companion to Music, and The Oxford Dictionary of Music.
 
Science Online provides access to all content in print Science, including peer review and research articles, news, perspectives, reviews, plus additional enhanced material only available online.
These databases can be accessed 24/7 from the  A-Z Databases link on the Library website from any computer with Internet access. Contact a librarian for assistance accessing or searching these sites.