Reporter’s note: Aaron was part of the Promise Program for two years, but is no longer a member.
Students who are part of the Promise Program at Citrus College have their fall and spring tuition covered for the first two years.
Citrus College Outreach Supervisor Nilda Chavez said 1,159 students at Citrus are in the Promise Program.
Chavez said the Promise Program has been important to the College and its students.
“I think it’s a great program to not only encourage them to complete their educational goals in two years and then transfer, if that’s something they want to do, but we also have a lot of students that you know just get a certificate,” Chavez said.
The Promise Program helps students choose the correct path for an educational plan and they also help them transfer to a university, Chavez said.
The California Promise Program is a state-funded program that covers tuition at all California community colleges, Chavez said. The state sets requirements for the program.
“They have to complete a FAFSA and then they have to be enrolled in at least 12 units,” Chaves said. Students who are taking 12 units in the Promise Program are full time students.
Alexa Filatoff, who is a completion specialist at Citrus College, also works at the Promise Program. Filatoff said in an email it has been a great experience working for the program.
“It has been a rewarding journey helping out our first generation college students acclimate to the Citrus College campus and providing the resources/tools to succeed,” Filatoff said. “My favorite part is seeing our students graduate.”
Students who are in the Promise Program overall are doing amazing, Filatoff said. Students are completing their English/math sequences as well as their unit requirements.
“Our students are communicating with us regularly and checking-in with us despite the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Filatoff said. “This illustrates our students’ resilience throughout these demanding times and ability to adapt.”
The Promise Program helps students by providing them with counseling services and assistance when they are struggling, Filatoff said.
She also said the Promise Program counselors always try to maintain students’ program eligibility and provide options in these circumstances. The Promise Program will contact students if they are struggling in the program.
The Promise Program has received thank you emails and shout-outs from students over the years and many of the students have graduated and transferred to universities.
Students who are in the Promise Program receive two years of payment for enrollment and their mandatory fees for fall and spring semesters covered. Students also receive a $100 textbook voucher.
Justin Susi is also a completion specialist at the Promise Program, and he said he enjoys working with students in the program.
“Leading multiple cohorts of first-time college students has been a great experience,” Susi said in an email. “I positively interact with diverse populations and initiate steadfast principles of inclusivity, equity and equality at Citrus College.”
The Promise Program’s 2020 progress report showed overall persistence and completion of unit and GPA requirements, transfer-level english and math as well as student success and retention, Susi said.
The Promise Program is important to students because they can attain an early awareness and readiness for college literacy and expectations.
“Students who struggle in the Promise Program will get academic intervention, counseling, utilization of faculty early alert systems, one-on-one with completion specialists and student success workshops,” Susi said.
Susi also said that the Promise Program is able to stay at Citrus College because of Assembly Bill 19, the California College Promise Grant, which was passed in 2017.
The bill waives student enrollment fees and includes a discount on their parking permits for the fall and spring semesters. The bill also discounts the student health fee for all terms for which they qualify.
Students who are enrolled at the Promise Program get registration, health service, student representation and class pass fees waived and are part of a textbook voucher program.
