I’ve Applied for a Cal Grant What’s Next? For CA Dream Act Filers Presented by The California Student Aid Commission March, 2013

What We’ll Cover What is WebGrants for Students How to create a WebGrants for Students Account Viewing your Application Status Your California Aid Report Requesting a School Change or Leave of Absence Updating your Demographic Information Privacy (FERPA) High School Cal Grant Entitlement Awards Use of your Cal Grant Award at a California Community College Cal Grant Award Amounts Cal Grant Renewal Eligibility Missed the March 2 Deadline? Cal Grant Appeals This presentation is geared towards high school seniors. If you are not a high school senior, some of this information will vary for you. Check out the commission’s website for information regarding your Cal Grants

After you complete the Dream Act Application Establish a WebGrants for Students Account at www.webgrants4students.org Make sure that your college and the Student Aid Commission always have your correct demographic information Keep your college of attendance correct on WebGrants

Further Notes for Dreamers Selective Service Registration is required for males age 18 to 25 Dreamers offered any financial aid assistance must complete an affidavit which certifies that they meet the AB 540 eligibility requirements. You may have to file federal income tax returns: A single person - if you made $9,750 or more A married person - $19,500

Further Notes for Dreamers The recent federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) does not prevent students from applying for California Dream Act financial aid. California students who have applied for or received approval for Deferred Action should complete the California Dream Act Application, not the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Do not enter your DACA approved SSN on the CA Dream Act Application.

What is WebGrants 4 Students? “WebGrants 4 Students” is a California Student Aid Commission website that: Is separate from the California Dream Act Application site Provides secure, convenient and user-friendly 24-hour access to your Cal Grant and Chafee Grant award information Empowers you to stay on top of your grant application Provides valuable information about other types of financial aid Provides links to other related financial aid sites www.webgrants4students.org

Go to www.webgrants4students.org Hit “Create an Account”

Creating a WebGrants 4 Students Account Creating a WebGrants 4 Students Account offers YOU the tools to manage your own Cal Grant Award. Enter your name as you did on the CA Dream Act Application. To get started, you need to create an account.

CSAC must have a completed Dream Act Application or GPA on file to create an Account Instead of a Social Security Number, students who completed the Dream Act Application must use their Dream Act ID number to establish a WebGrants for Students account.

Your Dream ID Number is printed on your Dream Act Application Confirmation Page Dream ID# is here

CREATE YOUR WEBGRANTS ACCOUNT

CONFIRM YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION John Smith 123456789 01/23/1992 1234 MAIN STREET, CITYVILLE, CA 95662 9165551234 emailaddress@email.com

Anything in the RED Requirements Section needs to be completed before a Cal Grant award can be offered. This is the main menu, it is important that you look at the bottom of the page for any required information. If you click on the link and do not hit submit, you will loose the link and you will have to print out the G-23 correction form for any corrections you may need to make. Like High School Graduation Date or the Wrong School code.

Application Status **ANIMATION** As some of you may know, the application for a Cal Grant consists of 2 things. -a current year FAFSA -and a GPA Verification form The application status screen is for you to check the status of your FAFSA and GPA and also allows you to view the GPA that your school may have submitted to verify it’s accuracy. As you can see in this example, the 2 green checkmarks indicate that we have received both the FAFSA and GPA. The application has been processed and the student has been awarded and now all this student needs to do is wait until their application is processed

Student Award Detail **ANIMATION** This screen is only available once your application has been processed. In the Award Detail screen under notes, we need to add something like, " Make sure you understand the reason for which you were "NOT AWARDED" In most cases the error can be corrected. If student is a dependent, all financial info and marital status is of your parent.

California Aid Report (CAR) Official CSAC Cal Grant Award Letter -List’s the first 3 schools from FAFSA and the Award amount for each school. -After being awarded, you need to read your CAR as it provides further information regarding your award -Can be printed and given to school upon request

Making a School Change We will consider you for the top California schools listed on your CA Dream Act Application. Cal Grants may only be used at eligible California colleges and universities. Use your WebGrants Account to tell us where to send your Cal Grant. Your financial need will be reevaluated once you have made a school change. Look carefully for the school you want to select using the drop down menu. You must keep us updated on your school of attendance for your Cal Grant to be paid out Remember, your financial need will be reevaluated if you change your school choice. If your college expenses are reduced due to a school change, your grant may be reduced or withdrawn accordingly. A student may request a Cal Grant leave of absence if the student is unable to attend at least half-time during part of the school year do to: not getting into classes enrollment caps postponing enrollment Students will continue to have potential Cal Grant eligibility until they have exceeded the maximum leave time (150%).

Making a School Change Drop Down List of eligible Cal Grant schools. You must keep us updated on your school of attendance for your Cal Grant to be paid out Remember, your financial need will be reevaluated if you change your school choice. If your college expenses are reduced due to a school change, your grant may be reduced or withdrawn accordingly. A student may request a Cal Grant leave of absence if the student is unable to attend at least half-time during part of the school year do to: not getting into classes enrollment caps postponing enrollment Students will continue to have potential Cal Grant eligibility until they have exceeded the maximum leave time (150%).

A LEAVE OF ABSENCE Using the School Change/LOA Link You can request a Cal Grant leave of absence if you are unable to attend at least half-time during part of the school year due to: Not getting into classes Campus enrollment caps Deciding to enroll the following term You must keep us updated on your school of attendance for your Cal Grant to be paid out Remember, your financial need will be reevaluated if you change your school choice. If your college expenses are reduced due to a school change, your grant may be reduced or withdrawn accordingly. A student may request a Cal Grant leave of absence if the student is unable to attend at least half-time during part of the school year do to: not getting into classes enrollment caps postponing enrollment Students will continue to have potential Cal Grant eligibility until they have exceeded the maximum leave time (150%).

Make sure CSAC always has your current info on file School will not notify CSAC of any demographic changes. (students responsibility) CSAC needs to be able to contact you regarding your Cal Grant application or award, so keep your contact info up to date. If you move from your current address, or change your E-mail address, notify CSAC of the updated information If you need to change/correct your name or DOB, you will need to contact CSAC, change cannot be made on WGS.

Privacy The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of your education records. If you are either 18 years or older or attending college, we are unable to assist anyone, including your parent(s), with questions pertaining to your account without your permission.  To give permission for a third party, like your Mom or Dad, to access your account information you can log into your webgrants4students account and click on, “Allow Third Party Access to My Account” or submit the Third Party Release Form located on csac.ca.gov

Cal Grant Entitlement You have Three Chances to Apply for a Cal Grant As a high school senior Within one year after graduating from high school or receiving your GED As a California Community College transfer student, as long as you are under the age of 28 and meet the other program requirements

High School Cal Grant Entitlement Awards Awarded to recent high school graduates or equivalent (GED) High school GPA is required Must meet minimum GPA, income and asset ceilings, and general eligibility requirements Potentially unlimited number of awards 2013/14 AY: graduated on or after July 1, 2011 Entitlement participation requires high school graduation. Note that CAHSEE must be passed, if required.

High School Graduation Certification Your Cal Grant Entitlement award is tentative and will remain on hold until you verify your High School Graduation Date AFTER YOU GRADUATE log back in to your Webgrants4Students account to certify you graduated from high school Using your account to certify your high school graduation will remove your hold within minutes 1) on-line will remove the hold within minutes 2) By mail it can take 4-6 weeks for it to be keyed into our system.

Transfer Entitlement Awards Community College to 4 year This Cal Grant is for students attending a California Community College (CCC) and are transferring to a 4 year college or university California Community College GPA required Meet minimum GPA, income and asset ceilings, and eligibility requirements Potentially unlimited number of awards Seniors if you do not qualify for an entitlement award, you may qualify for a Transfer Entitlement.

Use of your Cal Grant Award at a California Community College Cal Grant A automatically put in reserve for two years while attending a Community College Cal Grant B can be used at a Community College Cal Grant C payable at a CC

Cal Grant A Held in Reserve Award Held in Reserve The awards are held in CCC Reserve status and are automatically renewed for up to two years if enrollment continued at the community college Your Cal Grant funds may become available to you when you transfer to an Cal Grant eligible, degree-granting, tuition/fee- charging school, if you meet all the renewal requirements at the time of transfer. You may request a third year of reserve in writing, if your reason is beyond your control, by submitting an appeal form. Cal Grant A award does not pay at a community college

Qualified for both Cal Grant A & B Some students meet the eligibility requirements for both Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B But, students can only have one Cal Grant award at a time See your financial aid advisor to determine the best Cal Grant award for you Have a GPA of 3.0 and meet the income and asset ceilings of both programs.

Cal Grant A Pays University of California $12192 (Tuition/Fees) California State University $ 5472 (Tuition/Fees) Community College Award is held in Reserve Private / Proprietary $9084 (Tuition/Fees) Maximum Award Amounts are based on Full-time Enrollment.

Cal Grant B Pays University of California $12192 (Tuition /Fees) $1473 (Access) Only Pays Access the Freshman Year California State University $ 5472 (Tuition/Fees) $1473 (Access) Only Pays Access the Freshman Year Community College $ 1473 (Access) Private / Proprietary Up to $9084 (Tuition/Fees) $1473 (Access) Maximum Award Amounts are based on Full-time Enrollment.

How Long Might I have a Cal Grant? 1st time freshman are potentially eligible for up to four years of Cal Grant payment What is your educational goal - an Associate Degree or a Bachelors Degree? Use your eligibility wisely Save eligibility for when you transfer Can take breaks by using a Leave of Absence 1) may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments 2) eligibility will be based on your educational level at the time you receive your first Cal Grant payment 3) eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment. 4) Students may use more than one year of Cal Grant eligibility in a calendar year if they are attending a year round school

Renewing Your Cal Grant File a Dream Act Application every year you are in college. Do not need to submit a GPA Meet income and asset ceilings. These requirements can be found at www.csac.ca.gov Meet minimum financial need criteria Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress Attend a Cal Grant eligible school located in California. Cost of Attendance Expected Family Contribution Renewal Cal Grant Need Cal Grant A CSU $5472 + $1500 = $6972 UC $12192 + $1500 = $13692 Private $9084 + $1500 = $10584 Cal Grant B Minimum need of $700 required Cal Grant C $4224 + $1500 = $5724

Missed the March 2 Deadline? You can file an appeal with the Commission if you were not able to submit your CA Dream Act Application or your GPA on-time due to circumstances beyond your control. CSAC must receive an appeal by May 16, 2013. You can find the Cal Grant Appeals Form at www.csac.ca.gov. Search for Participant Forms and Applications.

March 2 Entitlement (Began Awarding in Late February) Award Cycles March 2 Entitlement (Began Awarding in Late February) March 2 Transfer Entitlement (May) Cal Grant C for vocational students

Resources California Dream Act Application site: www.caldreamact.org CA Dream Act Flyer – www.caldreamact.org E4FC & CSAC CADA Guide – http://www.e4fc.org/resources/californiadreamact.html Deferred Action (DACA) - http://www.uscis.gov/ Life After DACA Blog - http://www.lclaa.org/

CSAC Contact Information WebGrants for Students: webgrants4students.org Internet Access: www.csac.ca.gov or www.calgrants.org E-mail: studentsupport@csac.ca.gov Telephone: Toll-free (888) 224-7268 Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

www.csac.ca.gov

Thank you for participating! We work to make education beyond high school financially accessible for all Californians.