When is Registration

Current/Former homeless youth qualify for priority registration. Here’s how to qualify:

Step 1: Complete Enrollment Steps:

• Submit CCCApply Application
• Complete orientation
• Create an Educational Plan with a counselor
• Submit FAFSA

Step 2: Verify Independent Student Status

After initial FAFSA review and if a student is eligible, Financial Aid will contact the student requesting verification.  The student must submit an official letter from any of the following documenting their status:

1. a high school or school district homeless liaison,
2. the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program, or
3. the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program.

“Homeless youth” means at any time during the 24 months immediately preceding the application for admission. “Former homeless youth” means a student under 25 years of age, who has been verified.

Priority Registration will be assigned for 6 years or until the age of 25, whichever comes first, upon verification of homeless status.

Step 3: Submit for Eligibility Review

Send the homeless verification letter to the Financial Aid Department at [email protected]

Students who have a child under 18 years of age who will receive more than half of their support from that student may qualify for Group 1 Priority Registration (AB 2881:Bergman).

To be considered for eligibility, you must submit a Student Parent Questionnaire. Information and deadlines about this questionnaire will be sent to your Merced College email address in February and September.

Students who are qualifying Foster Youth or former Foster Youth(1), or Homeless Youth(2) at Merced College.

OR

Students who are qualifying Veterans, or students who are receiving services from EOPS, DSPS, CalWORKs or Tribal TANF, or eligible student parents(3) or justice-involved students(4), and who:

• have completed orientation, assessment, and developed a student education plan (abbreviated education plan if less than 15 units completed and comprehensive education plan if 15 units or more completed) at Merced College;
• have completed less than 100 degree-applicable units at Merced College;
• do not have two or more continuous semesters of probation at Merced College immediately prior to semester enrolling.

Footnotes:

(1) “Foster youth and former foster youth” means a person in California whose dependency was established or continued by the court on or after the youth’s 16th birthday and who is no older than 25 years of age at the commencement of the academic year.
(2) “Homeless youth” means a student under 25 years of age, who has been verified at any time during the 24 months immediately preceding the receipt of his or her application for admission by a postsecondary educational institution that is a qualifying institution pursuant to Section 69432.7, as a homeless child or youth, as defined in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)). A student who is verified as a homeless youth within 24-months prior to their admission application shall retain that status for a period of six years from the date of admission to the postsecondary educational institution or until the age of 25, whichever comes first.
(3) AB 2881 (Berman) Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children states Merced College will offer priority registration to eligible students who have a child under 18 years of age who will receive more than half their support from that student.
(4) Justice-involved students receiving services from a program funded by Rising Scholars Network funds. T5 §58108.

Athletes, International Students, students with a 3.5 GPA or better and all continuing students who have completed or are in-progress of completing 30-75 units at Merced College prior to semester enrolling and who:

• have completed orientation, assessment, and developed a student comprehensive education plan at Merced College;
• have completed less than 100 degree applicable units at Merced College;
• do not have 2 or more continuous semesters of probation at Merced College immediately prior to semester enrolling.

New students, including graduating high school seniors, who:

• have completed orientation, assessment, and developed a student education plan (abbreviated education plan if less than 15 units completed and comprehensive education plan if 15 units or more completed) at Merced College.

Returning students and all other continuing students at Merced College prior to semester enrolling and who:

• have completed orientation, assessment, and developed a student education plan (abbreviated education plan if less than 15 units completed and comprehensive education plan if 15 units or more completed) at Merced College
• have completed less than 100 degree applicable units at Merced College
• do not have 2 or more continuous semesters of probation at Merced College immediately prior to semester enrolling

All other students (i.e. Special Admit K-12 students, students who have completed 100 or more degree applicable units, academic enrichment, students not completing orientation, assessment and/or education plans, etc.).