SWC student aid workshop planned

Southwestern College’s financial aid office will host its second and final Financial Aid and Residency Workshop for AB540 students.

The workshop, held on the second floor of the Cesar Chavez Building from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, will assist current and incoming SWC Dream Act students in understanding the process of signing up for financial aid.

“We will be providing information for them on how to apply for financial aid, how to be eligible for the fee waiver and Cal Grants,” said SWC financial aid specialist Claudia Gaitan. “And we will also cover what steps they need to take in the residency office so they can potentially be eligible for financial aid.”

Financial aid specialist Angel Salazar said 15 students attended the first workshop last December. He said he does not yet know how many students will attend the second workshop.

Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) students, affords undocumented students conditional residency in the United States with the opportunity to become educated and productive members of society.
Assembly Bill 540 allows undocumented students who meet certain requirements to pay instate tuition instead of out-of-state tuition when attending college in California.

Gaitan said the two workshops are held annually and have nothing to do with the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. In his campaign, Trump has taken a tough stand against undocumented immigration and has worried supporters of the DREAM Act.

Salazar said many DREAM Act students do not realize the process of applying for financial aid is not much different than for a non-DREAM Act student.

“The process of applying for financial aid for a Dreamer is not more difficult but it is different when filling out the FAFSA,” he said. “This workshop will help them complete that application.”

Salazar said one of the most common mistakes for a DREAM Act student when applying for financial aid is that an applicant’s name does not match the name they used on their DREAM Act application.

Gaitan said the financial aid office wants to help DREAM Act students every step of the way during their college journey.

“When it comes to financial aid, we want DREAM Act students to know there are resources out there for them to help them reach their educational goals, that we are here for them, to help guide and assist them, because ultimately we want them to be successful,” she said.