Got Questions?

 Participation in a summer program as the first college experience is mandatory. For information on how to participate in each program, please visit the Summer Bridge and STEP websites. To apply to receive funding for the Summer term, submit a financial aid application for 2021-22.

Yes, all three programs will still be available. This Summer, both STEP and Summer Bridge will offer fully online courses. To receive Promise+Plus benefits in the Fall, students must participate in either of the two online summer programs

Please refer to our homepage and view Benefits.

The program serves up-to 1,000 students each year and is only open to applicants once a year; Interested students must participate in either the STEP into College or Summer Bridge program the summer term prior to their first Fall semester. The program is only for first-time college students that have never attended college.

Yes. this summer, both Summer Bridge and STEP will be conveniently offered fully online. Students interested in receiving two years of Promise+Plus benefits must participate in either online summer program.  

Student GPA’s are not required upon applying. However, Promise+Plus students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to receive term to term program benefits.

• Submit a Summer 2021 college application. *students must select a major of study. Certificates under 16 units and undecided major students are not eligible for CA Promise Programs.
• Apply for financial aid 2021-22 FASFA or CA Dream Act.
• Apply and participate in either of the following 2021 summer programs: Summer Bridge OR STEP Into College.
• Select the "Participate" tab on our website  or click here: PARTICIPATE

• Select the "Participate" tab on our website  or click here: PARTICIPATE

An automated email is sent to inform students that the application was received. Students must complete the additional Steps to Apply and check their Mt. SAC student email regularly throughout Summer 2020. Notices of acceptance into Promise+Plus will not be sent until all Steps to Apply are completed and all supplemental documents are provided to Financial Aid.

High School students participating in dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, articulation courses, or special admit program, are eligible for Promise+Plus as a first-time college student.

Promise+Plus is for first-time college students/never attended college. Interested students cannot have attended any US or International college, whether that be a community college, UC, Cal State, Out of State, Private, etc.

No, the program is only available to California Residents.

• Submitting a 2021-22 FAFSA or CA Dream Act is a requirement of all California Promise Programs across the state.
• Students interested in Promise+Plus must complete the financial aid process for FAFSA or CA Dream Act, including submitting any additional documents requested by the Mt. SAC Financial Aid Department.

To be eligible for Promise+Plus benefits, completing the FAFSA or CA Dream Act is required; however, not qualifying for financial aid does not impact students eligibility for Promise+Plus Benefits. Students that are ineligible for financial aid will receive payment of mandatory fees (not tuition), book grant, e-card, access to laptop loan program, Mountie gear and other school supplies!

Students eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) (fee waiver) that combine the benefits of the CA Promise Program (known at Mt. SAC as Promise+Plus), could pay close to nothing for college due to the additional financial benefits such as book vouchers!

• Promise+Plus does offers unique benefits, but it is best to do your research on what other community colleges offer. CA College Promise programs vary at each college.
• Students eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) (fee waiver) that combine the benefits of the CA Promise Program (known at Mt. SAC as Promise+Plus), could pay close to nothing for college due to the additional financial benefits such as book grants!

California College Promise Grant (CCPG) (previously known as the BOG fee waiver) is applied after completing the FAFSA or CA Dream Act application and demonstrating $1,104 or more of financial need. The CCPG waives your tuition fees from a $46 per unit cost to $0 per unit, covering your tuition! Promise+Plus covers the mandatory fees (not tuition) as well as offer additional benefits such as book voucher, food cards, laptop loaner programs, and additional school supplies. If you qualify for CCPG and Promise+Plus, you have combined resources and would pay $0 for Fall and Spring Semesters at Mt. SAC for 2021-22!
For more information visit: https://www.mtsac.edu/financialaid/

We encourage students to check their Mt. SAC student email regularly through the portal throughout Summer 2021. Initial eligibility does not mean you are admitted to Promise+Plus. There are prerequisites to establishing eligibility such completing STEP or Summer Bridge, submitting the 2021-22 FAFSA or CA Dream Act, registering for at minimum 6 units and enrolling in a math or English course in Fall 2021.

Initial benefits are awarded to eligible students that are accepted to Promise+Plus for the Fall 2021 semester during a mandatory Kick-Off event.  For information on maintaining term-to-term eligibility visit the home page, Maintaining Eligibility.

Only students that meet all the requirements and are accepted to the program will be invited to the kick-off event. Unavailable students must email promiseplus@mtsac.edu with proof of why they are unable to attend. If it is an excusable absence, a make-up session will be scheduled.

Once students are officially accepted into Promise+Plus, they will receive a refund for the mandatory fees (not tuition) that were paid in advance of Promise+Plus paying them.

Due to circumstances outside of the students control, the program will not require current Promise+Plus students to attend any events this Spring and will not penalize students for not registering for a English or math course. A second year of benefits will be awarded to those that complete their first year of college with a minimum 2.0 GPA and that submit a NEW 2020-21 financial aid application and submit any additional requested documentation. 

Students that maintain term to term program eligibility will receive a second year of benefits. However early registration is only for the first year of college. Notification will be sent to through the Mt. SAC email over the Summer 2020 term.

Students that maintain their eligibility for continued benefits for their second year will receive all the same benefits with the exception of early registration. Early registration is only available for the first year.

Students are encouraged to check their Mt. SAC email weekly for important updates. The program sends multiple communication related to general announcements that apply to all Promise+Plus students and information specific to each student. In addition, the program makes phone calls to students that are at risk of losing benefits if they are not meeting program requirements. All program emails are important!

• Students must complete two English and/or math courses within the first year (Fall, Winter, Spring) to be eligible for a second year of benefits. We recommend students register for English and/or math courses each semester.
• Students must complete English and/or Math courses within the first year (Fall, Winter, Spring). If a student has completed English and Math during their first year, they will need to email promiseplus@mtsac.edu and provide a digital copy of their Mountie Academic Plan (MAP) that shows which semester(s) they have taken the courses.

 These are approved workshops and events that Promise+Plus will promote to students to attend at least one during the Fall & Spring semesters in addition to meeting with a counselor.

Yes, participation in campus events/workshops is a requirement for first year and second year benefits. To maintain eligibility. Students must attend at minimum one Promise+Plus Approved events/workshops each semester and make a counseling appointment each semester. We recommend that students work with a counselor to complete their mountie academic plan (MAP).

 You can locate our Promise Approved Workshop Calendar in the "Current Promise+Plus Students" Tab on our website.  In addition, the program will email students  reminders for high demand workshops. Students must remember to check their Mt. SAC email regularly. 

Depending on the workshop there are different means to verify. Please make sure you read the instructions for your chosen workshop. Some workshops send us a list of attendees, others require you state that you are Promise Student directly to the presentor, some will require that you screen shot attendance completion from your portal. Again, each is different, please read the instructions provided in the Promise Approved Workshop Calendar for each workshop. 

 Yes, attending a counseling appointment is a requirement for first year and second year benefits to maintain eligibility. Students are responsible for scheduling their own counseling appointment through the semesters. To schedule and appointment with a Promise Counselor please go to the "Current Promise+Plus Students" tab. To schedule with General Counseling please visit https://www.mtsac.edu/counseling/

 To schedule and appointment with a Promise Counselor please go to the "Current Promise+Plus Students" tab. To schedule with General Counseling please visit https://www.mtsac.edu/counseling/

Yes. If you are currently in a student support program such as EOPS, Honors, or DREAM, we accept those appointments to meet our requirement. Counseling appointments within these programs count towards meeting this requirement.

 The Promise+Plus program is only approving two types of counseling appointments: Phone appointments and Video appointments with a counselor. These appointments must be a full appointment, approximately 45 minutes in length. We recommend that students work with a counselor to complete their mountie academic plan (MAP).

For Fall 2020 Semester,  ​if students have met with a counselor anytime between August 24, 2020 to December 11, 2020 this will count for the FALL 2020 counseling requirement. Any other date before this does not count since it was not within this semester start and end date. 

 At the end of the semester Promise gathers appointment reports from counseling to verify our students completion of their counseling appointments. To help us double-check, we ask that students who meet with a counselor other than our Promise Counselors, complete the Promise Counseling Appointment Google Doc that was emailed to your Mt. SAC Email. 

First-Year Promise+Plus students receive EARLY registration, which is the second day of registration.

Students should check their Mt. SAC email for updates. Prior to the start of each semester, students receive an email with the book grant and additional information on when to expect E-Cards in the student's Mt. SAC email address. 

The Promise+Plus Book Grant is issued directly to you through your Financial Aid Award Package. Depending on how you set up your account it will either go directly to your bank account or be mailed directly to your home. 

The E-Card will be sent to your Mt. SAC Email from an outside vendor. Promise+Plus will email you to inform you ahead of time when to expect your E-Card. 

Yes. However, you will only receive half of the amount. Please refer to our homepage for additional details.

The E-Card is intended to support our students with the purchase of groceries and any additional school supplies only.  

 Promise+Plus does not have access to your Target E-Card. You can contact the number located on the email that provided the E-Card and see if you can suspend the remaining balance. Promise+Plus is not responsible for your balances and will not provide additional funds in the event you lose your E-Card. 

 Yes, you can use your P+P Book Grant to purchase books at the retailer of your choice, including the SAC Book Rac (Mt. SAC bookstore).

Students may only use up-to the maximum cost of the book grant per semester. However, there are additional services on campus that may minimize text book costs. Visit the SAC Book Rac (bookstore) for the text book loan program or visit the library reserves section. Many professors reserve required textbooks in the library.

Students may use multiple book grants to purchase text books from the retailer of your choice. 

Students participating in the laptop loan program are provided with the technology each semester they are registered for 6 units or more and continue to meet the Promise+Plus Program requirements. Students meeting all program requirements (required workshops, GPA, enrollment in English or math, minimum units) that register for subsequent semesters (excluding summer) may keep the laptop for each registered term.

Students participating in our laptop/technology loan program are required to return all borrowed technology by scheduling an appointment with the campus Laptop Loan Program or directly through the campus Help Desk (909) 274-4357 (HELP).

Please click on the hold for a description of the hold on the student portal. Promise+Plus does not place any holds on student records. However, if the student participated in the laptop loan program and did not return the technology by return date, student will need to contact the Help Desk directly at (909) 274-4357 (HELP) to schedule an appointment to return the technology.

• This is a minimum GPA requirement to stay eligible to receive benefits.
• Students on academic probation, must complete a student success workshop through the counseling department to be able to register for courses. By completing this workshop, students will be conditionally accepted to receive benefits for the term.
• It is mandatory for students to finish their first-year of college with a minimum 2.0 GPA to receive a second year of benefits.

Internet and hot spots are provided through the campus Laptop Loan Program and are provided based on availability. 

Email promiseplus@mtsac.edu .Current Promise+Plus students are encouraged to always include their full name and ID# when requesting specific information about their personal records. For general program questions call (909)274-5906.