The College of the Canyons First-Year Promise program is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 year.

Launched last fall, the program provides increased opportunities for new full-time college students to achieve their educational goals by waiving tuition and fees during their first year of study.

To be eligible, a student must be a California resident (or AB 540-eligible student) and a graduate of the William S. Hart Union High School District or neighboring school district during the 2017-18 academic year.

Eligible students will enroll in a one-year sequence of courses with priority registration, preceded by a week-long summer boot camp to learn skills needed to be a successful college student. Students will also complete career assessment and receive academic guidance.

First-Year Promise courses will be offered with the benefits of free Open Educational Resources to use as textbooks, peer mentors, and other learning community elements. To ensure students remain on track, ongoing counseling and student support will also be offered.

Additionally, each student will receive a $100 voucher per semester that can be applied toward other textbooks, supplies and instructional materials; a parking pass or city bus pass, and free computer lab printing services.

During its inaugural year, 63 percent of the 260 students enrolled in the program maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher.

The college anticipates that 350 students will be accepted into the program’s 2018-19 cohort. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible, as all requirements must be complete by May 11, 2018.

First-Year Promise was initially funded through a $750,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Out of 51 community college districts that applied, College of the Canyons was one of only 14 to be awarded a grant through the California College Promise Innovation Grant Program.

To ensure the continued success of First-Year Promise, the College of the Canyons Foundation has committed to raising $500,000 over the next two years. The foundation has raised $363,306 so far, thanks to generous donations from businesses such as Scorpion, Logix Federal Credit Union, Sand Canyon Country Club and FivePoint.

For more information about First-Year Promise and to apply, visit the program’s web page.