Promise Scholar News

This is the first semester that the Promise has been approved to provide a books, supplies, and equipment stipend. Students can use it for college-related expenses (like books, ebooks, technology for college, lab equipment, and more). This one of a few surveys that we will use to help our board consider a continued stipend. Your answers will help us continue to support students in ways that are effective for them.

FAQ

What about my graduating class?

• Class of 2024 - 3.00 or one of the acceptions (CTC or top 30%)
• Class of 2023 - 3.25 or one of the acceptions (CTC or top 30%)
• Class of 2022 - 3.40 or the CTC exception
• Class of 2021 - 3.50
• Class of 2020 - 3.50

What this means:

Please be sure to plan accordingly. Additional scholarships might include Baker College scholarships, federal and state grants, or other local and national scholarships. There is a list of current scholarships in Xello. If you need access to your Xello account, please let Mrs. Pulsipher know.

Academic Advising

• selecting your next semester courses
• making any degree program changes
• checking in about graduation

Mental Health Counseling

It's also a good time to check with your counselor if you need mental health support. Many college and universities, including Muskegon Community College, have counselors who are qualified to help students with both academic and personal counseling. MCC students can make an appointment through the counseling office or by submitting a care report (about themselves or another student). Baker students can check in with OneStop. Anyone who is in a mental health crisis or is with someone in a mental health crisis can reach out for help by dialing 988.

Reasons to take summer courses:

• It's required for your program (like nursing students)
• There are speciality courses that are only offered in the summer.
• You want to graduate early.
• You want to focus on a difficult class.
• You want to open room in your schedule in the fall semester.
• If you are a guest student, it may cost less than the same course at your regular college.
• You want to meet SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) to requalify for financial aid.

Consider:

• Summer courses are usually condensed into less time but have the same requirements. This means that a class that would have taken 15 weeks in the fall may only be 8 or 10 weeks long.
• Some financial aid offers do not cover summer classes, but some do. The Muskegon Area Promise will cover summer courses for Promise students. If you have other financial aid, check with your financial aid office to see if any of it can be used for summer semesters.
• Are you working a seasonal job or more hours in the summer? Be sure you are ready to balance work and school by checking the course syllabus for reading and homework loads.

What is a College Guest Student?

College guest students are students who want to take one (or a few) courses at one college to transfer to a different college, but do not plan to earn a degree at the "guest" college. For instance, a GVSU student may decide to take a single math class at MCC over the summer. The student does not plan to graduate from MCC, but they know that the class will transfer, and it will save them almost $500 in tuition.

Can I use financial aid?

This will depend on what type of aid you have, which colleges you listed on your FAFSA, and your enrollment status (full time, part time, etc.). The Muskegon Area Promise is one source of financial aid, and we do cover summer guest students that take classes at MCC or Baker College of Muskegon. Some aid, like federal, state, or college-specific aid, may not be able to be used at your guest college.

What do I need to know to use the Promise as a guest student?

• You must be in good standing with your college and your guest college (meet SAP).
• You must fill out the Promise Acceptance Form and choose "Guest Student (Summer Only)" for your scholar type.
• You are not required to have a FAFSA on file with MCC or Baker College to use the Promise as a guest student, however you should check with them to be sure it isn't required for any other aid offered. (Regular students are required to submit the FAFSA every year.)
• The courses that you take should transfer back and count toward your program (degree or certificate).
• Once you have an associate's degree or 72 credits total at any college, you cannot use the Promise, even as a guest student.
• Like all Promise funds, you have 5 years from your high school graduation to use the funds.

Last summer, 185 Promise Scholars took summer courses at MCC or Baker College. Some of these were regular MCC or Baker students. Many used the new guest student allowance to take up to 12 credits and transfer back to a different college or university.

Email Mrs. Pulsipher for details or questions.

1. Your college email (every day)
2. Your financial aid portal (especially at the beginning of the semester)
3. Your online course manager (Blackboard or Canvas)

College departments, like financial aid, finance, and registration will communicate with your by college email and student portals. They expect you to read them. If you aren't checking, you could miss something important like FAFSA verification, missing financial aid, a change in class location, or unpaid charges.

• Use your FSA ID that you created last year. (Remember, this is a once per lifetime account.)
• Get your parents/guardians to do their part. (They are a contributor until you are 24, have a bachelor's degree, or are married).
• List the college that you plan to attend in 2025-2026 first. This is where any State of Michigan money will go starting fall 2025.

• Scholarships that need to be renewed or reapplied for at your current college
• Transfer scholarships on your current or future colleges' scholarship pages
• Other scholarships (check your Xello account for links to more scholarships)