Students in front of the student services building
August 2016
In This Issue
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START THE YEAR WITH MUSTANG MADNESS!

Throughout the week of August 15, the Office of Student Life will welcome new and returning students with Mustang Madness - fun, activities, giveaways and free food - all  in the Outdoor Quad. For times and details, visit Activities and Events.

Mustang madness banner 
We'll start with Monday Palooza, a program fair including fun activities and free gifts - and be sure to cool off with free Jamba Juice!

Tuesday is Mustang Day, your chance  to learn about LMC student clubs, organizations and learning communities. You just might win a Backpack Starter Pack filled with all the necessities you need for your time at LMC!  And be sure to grab a free hot dog!

Thursday, is time for the Big Freeze.  Cool down and chill out with free ice cream treats while enjoying giveaways and a photo booth. Then later that day, join us for Mustang Afternoon, with giveaways including free pizza, goody bags and frozen desserts.

At Brentwood Center
Brentwood Center will have it's own Mustang Day Student Services Fair with free pizza and frozen desserts in the next few weeks.  The date will be announced soon, so stay tuned! 
IMPORTANT DATES
  • August 12 -- Fall 2016 classes begin
  • August 25 -- Last day to add Fall 2016 full-term classes
  • August 25 -- Last day to drop Fall 2016 full-term classes and receive refund or credit
  • September 2 - Last day to drop Fall 2016 full-term classes in person without a "W"
  • September 3 -- College closed, no Saturday classes
  • September 5 -- Labor Day holiday, college closed
  • September 5 - Last day to drop Fall 2016 full term classes on WebAdvisor without a "W"
  • September 9 -- Last day to request Pass/No Pass (P/NP) on Fall 2016 courses marked SC (Student Choice)
More important dates
ONE STEP CLOSER TO GRADUATION - ADD ANOTHER CLASS!

Find a class
We still have room for YOU in class! Want to be another step closer to graduation? Can you fit in one more class? Have some spare time on Saturdays? We have space in choice classes - check it out!
AN APP FOR LMC!

Elusion graphic
Students can now add and drop classes, check their grades, make a payment, check to see if a class is cancelled, access Canvas and much more through a mobile app called Ellucian Go.  Ellucian is the provider of the Contra Costa Community College database, the Insite portal and now, Ellucian Go.

To start using the app, go to the Apple App Store on your Apple device or Google Play Store on your Android device and download Ellucian Go. Apple devices will prompt you to allow notifications. Click OK to allow and continue.

Choose "Los Medanos College" from the drop-down list, then enter your Insite username and password when prompted.  Now tap the menu in the upper left-hand corner and see all your options!
NEW PARKING PERMIT STATIONS
pay station

New parking permit stations have been installed on the Pittsburg campus to provide students and visitors with more dependable machines and more convenient pay options. Here are a few features that make these new machines better:
  •  Each permit machine has a motion-detected LED light that illuminates the machine when a member of the community approaches it to purchase a permit.
  • In addition to Visa, MasterCard or American Express, you can now use Apple Pay or Google Pay to pay for permits.
  • The new machines have larger LCD screens, providing easier to read instructions with photos showing how to purchase a permit and where to place it on the dashboard.
One significant change is that these machines will no longer accept paper bills for payment. Bill acceptors are unreliable and expensive to repair, and few students used them to buy permits, so it was deemed better to purchase machines without them.
 
Of course, it is more cost effective and time saving for most students to purchase semester parking passes online, rather than daily parking permits. If you have any questions or concerns about the new stations or about any parking issues, contact Police Services at (925) 473-7329. 
ADMISSIONS UPDATES

Registration reminders
If you have not yet enrolled on the day your class begins, you must attend the class and obtain a late add code from the instructor, then enroll for the class by using the code on WebAdvisor. The last day to add full-semester courses is August 25, so be sure you are properly enrolled by then.

Graduation updates
Spring 2014 graduations: Your diplomas will be mailed to your address by September 15.  Please contact Admissions & Records if you have any questions.

Summer 2016 graduates: Summer diplomas are being processed now and will be mailed by October 15.  Make sure your address is correct in WebAdvisor so your diploma does not go astray.

Fall 2016 graduates: Admissions & Records will begin accepting fall graduation applications on August 12 and will continue through October 1.  You may check your status in Student Planning or by consulting with an LMC counselor.
FINANCIAL AID UPDATES

Submission start dates and deadlines

money graphic
Submission start dates:
  • All fall appeals: August 15
  • SAP online quiz: August 15
  • Direct Loan Request form: August 15
Deadlines:
  • Fall appeals: November 1
  • SAP online quiz: November 1
  • Direct Loan Request form: November 1
New financial aid disbursement methods coming Fall 2016
Beginning Fall 2016, students will have three options for receiving their financial aid awards. The funding options are:
  • Money Network Enabled CollegeCash Card: A reloadable prepaid account, funds are delivered within one day.
  • ACH/direct deposit: Funds are delivered to your checking account three to seven business days after the funds are disbursed.
  • Paper check: Delivered up to 14 days after funds are disbursed.
To learn more before selecting a funding option, check out our Financial Aid Funding Options FAQs.

Extended Financial Aid Lab hours
The Financial Aid Lab has added another day to assist students who need to apply for or renew their FAFSA application. See Financial Aid Lab Hours

Loss of BOG Fee Waiver eligibility
Effective Fall 2016, California community college students receiving the Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver must meet minimum academic and progress standards to be eligible for the program.

Students must: 
  • Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. (grade point average) of at least 2.0
  • Successfully complete at least 50 percent of all units attempted
 If a student is not able to meet any combination of these standards for two consecutive primary terms (fall and spring), they will lose fee waiver eligibility. If you need more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office or go to BOGFW Program Changes.

Important changes for 2017-2018 FAFSA
Starting October 2016, important changes are coming to the financial aid application process for students applying for the 2017-2018 academic year.  These changes include:
  • Submit a FAFSA earlier: Students will now be able to submit applications for 2017-2018 as early as October 1, 2016, three months earlier than in previous application cycles when the application was made available January 1.
  • Use earlier income information: Students will report income from an earlier tax year.  On the 2017-2018 FAFSA, students and parents will report 2015 tax information, not 2016 tax information.
What are the benefits of these changes?
  • More time for students to apply and explore financial aid options
  • Students and parents will not have to estimate prior year tax information or need to correct the FAFSA after using estimates, since taxes should already be filed and processed with the IRS.
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

How to access your scholarship 
If you have been awarded an internal or external scholarship for 2016-2017, you will need to contact the Foundation Office at (925) 473-7315 or e-mail foundation@losmedanos.edu to request a credit memo to pay your tuition or purchase books and other educational materials at the bookstore. Your tuition will not be paid automatically. The LMC Foundation does not issue scholarship checks directly to students, except to reimburse for acceptable educational expenses (receipts are required for all reimbursements). See Accessing My Scholarship for more information. 

Featured scholarships
money graphic

Live Your Dream, $1,500

Apply by November 15, 2016
Open to female students who provide the primary financial support for themselves and dependents, have financial need, are currently enrolled or accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program, reside in the United States, are motivated to achieve educational and career goals, do not currently have a graduate degree, have a social security number or Tax ID number, and are not are current Soroptimist members or previous recipients of this award.

2016 Contra Costa County Employer Advisory Council Scholarship, $500
Apply by August 31, 2016
This scholarship program is designed to encourage and assist individuals to develop new and current skills, further developing their careers and professional growth.

Child Development Grant Program, $1,000
Apply by: August 31, 2016
This scholarship is administered by the California Student Aid Commission and is designed for students who are attending a California public or private two-year or four-year post-secondary institution, majoring in Child Development and intending to teach or supervise in a licensed children's center in California for one year full time for each year the grant is received.

For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, see Local Area Scholarships.
STUDENT LINGO IS HERE!
Studentlingo logo

We are excited to share a new tool that can help support your success at LMC! StudentLingo is a series of interactive on-demand workshops, action plans and valuable resources to assist students in achieving their academic, personal, and career goals. The Student Success and Support Program (3SP) is sponsoring 41 online workshops in the following areas:
  • Academic & Career Exploration
  • Reading & Writing Strategies
  • Learning to Learn
  • Personal Management
  • Online Learning
Each workshop is broken down into topic areas for easy viewing! Check out our On-Demand Student Success Workshops web page to access StudentLingo.
Transfer graphic
TRANSFER & CAREER SERVICES NEWS

Welcome back!  Transfer & Career Services is here to help you prepare for your life after LMC!

New Transfer web pages
We have new website pages.  Check out our new Resources, Transfer Steps and How to Apply pages.

Workshops and tours
Fall 2016 workshop and tour dates are now online. Start planning to attend now!

Transfer applications and admission guarantees
Planning to apply to a CSU for Spring 2017?  How about a UC or CSU for Fall 2017?  Need a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for UC admission?  Here are your important dates:

CSU Spring Semester Applications:
August 1 - 30
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee
September 1 - 30
UC and CSU Fall Applications
October 1 - November 30
EARN UNITS FOR YOUR JOB!
office job
Do you currently have a job or internship, or are you volunteering your time? The Cooperative Work Experience Education program (CWEE) is a great opportunity to further develop your skills and learn more about your job while earning LMC and transferable units!
 
We are currently taking applications for the Fall 2016 semester. Visit the CWEE website or email TSanders@losmedanos.edu for more information. 
LMCAS banner
STUDENT LIFE NEWS

LMCAS senator applications
Are you interested in making a difference at LMC? Would you like to have a voice in important decisions that affect you and other students? Do you want to gain great experience and develop your leadership skills? If you answered yes, consider joining the student government (LMCAS) at Los Medanos College! Pick up an application at the Office of Student Life or download an application. Be sure to complete and submit your application to the Office of Student Life (GA Building) by 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 16. If you have any questions, come by the Office of Student Life, call us at (925) 473-7554 or e-mail advisor John Nguyen at knguyen@losmedanos.edu.

We Stand with Orlando
On Thursday, June 16, the Office of Student Life held a tribute acknowledging the tragedy in Orlando at the Library fountain featuring the trending hashtag: #WeStandWithOrlando. The campus community was invited to express their thoughts, prayers, and condolences in memory and support of the tragedy in Orlando through an interactive message board.
 
A Place to Talk
The Office of Student Life and the Counseling Department held an event on Thursday, July 14 to encourage dialogue regarding the tragedies that occurred in Louisiana, Minnesota, Dallas and beyond. Be on the lookout for future events aimed at providing a safe and brave space for the LMC community to share concerns and support one another.
student with books
BOOKSTORE NEWS

Regular Bookstore hours
Monday - Thursday, 7:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.*
Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
*Note: On Thursday, August 11, the Bookstore will open at 10:00 a.m.
 
Extended Bookstore hours
August 12 - 19
Monday - Thursday, 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
 
Brentwood Center book sales
August 10 - 30
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
 
Refunds & exchanges
The Fall 2016 refund and exchange deadline for any reason other than dropped classes is August 22.  Books must be in original condition and you must have the current semester receipt.  The deadline for refunds and exchanges of books for dropped classes is August 26 with your current class schedule.

Payment is accepted by cash, Visa and MasterCard only.  Textbook rentals, refunds and exchanges are available only at the LMC Bookstore in Pittsburg. 
BRENTWOOD CENTER NEWS  

IMPORTANT! New parking regulations at the Brentwood Center
Please note that new parking regulations are now in place at the Brentwood Center.  The new regulations are being enforced by the City of Brentwood Police Department. They will be enforcing parking beginning on Monday, August 15.  Each parking infraction/ticket will be $35.

Parking Regulations at the Brentwood Center will be enforced Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

There is ample off-site parking on nearby streets Business Center Drive and Technology Way (see alternate parking map).  Please plan your travels to and from the Brentwood Center anticipating that you will likely need to park across the street and make the short walk to the Center. 
 
Please review the updated parking map to view where the new enforced parking will take place. You may also find this information on our updated Maps & Directions webpage.  
 
The areas indicated in purple are the only non-enforced areas and do not require a parking permit.  The areas in green are time limited (20 minute and 60 minute), the areas in red are private/restricted, and the areas in yellow require a permit and are limited to employees in the center.
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding,
 
 
map of parking areas 
 
Book sales at Brentwood Center
Fall 2016 textbooks for Brentwood classes will be on sale at Brentwood Center from Wednesday, August 10 through Tuesday, August 30 during the following hours: 
  • Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Services at Brentwood Center
Many of the services offered at the LMC Pittsburg Campus are also offered at the Brentwood Center.  The  Brentwood Student Services office is located just inside the front entry of the building.  Services include: 
  • Academic counseling
  • Admissions & Records 
  • Assessment testing
  • Biology Lab   
  • Bookstore services during the first three weeks of each semester
  • Workshops for probation and reinstatement
  • DSPS counseling and accommodations
  • Financial Aid
  • General tutoring
  • Library Services - textbook reserve, library book pick-up and drop-off
  • Lost & Found
  • Math Lab, Room 15
  • Reading and writing assistance through the Center for Academic Support
  • Transfer advising and workshops
  • Tutoring
  • Wellness counseling
  • Veterans counseling
For more information , visit the Brentwood Student Services webpage, or stop by or call the Brentwood Center Office at (925) 513-1625.

New Brentwood center coming in 2020