Promise Program FAQs

To maintain eligibility in the Full-Time Promise Program, students must:

• Enroll in at least 12 units each semester. 
  • Students with DSPS accommodation must enroll in the minimum number set by their counselor each semester.
• Meet with a counselor each fall and spring semester for at least one hour.
• Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and be in good academic standing.
• Complete 24 units in the first two semesters in the Promise Program.
• Complete a transfer level math and a transfer level English.
  • Students using AP scores must have them annotated on their transcript to satisfy the requirement.
• Renew their financial aid application for each new academic year.

(The Part-Time Promise Program is closed and no longer accepting new students) For students in the Part-Time Promise Program, in the Part-Time Promise Program, students must complete the following to maintain eligibility:

•    Enroll in at least 6 units per semester and (optionally) 3 units during the summer.
•    Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
•    Complete 6 units in the first two semesters.
•    Renew their financial aid application for each new academic year.
•    Continue to qualify for the California College Promise Grant.

Promise students can meet with any counselor from any of Saddleback College's counseling offices — including General Counseling, EOPS, DSPS, Transfer, Honors, or VETS — to satisfy your counseling requirement for the Promise Program.

Walk-in appointments do not fulfill the requirement. Students should make an hour-long appointment with a Saddleback counselor.

Students may be removed from the Promise Program when they:

• Did not maintain at least a 2.0 GPA or are placed on Academic or Progress Probation
• Did not complete the minimum number of units in relation to their program (24 for Full-Time Promise and 12 for Part-Time Promise)
• Did not complete a a transfer level math and a transfer level English in their first year
• Do not complete a financial aid application for each academic year

Students may regain eligibility for the Promise Program through counselor approval and/or successful completion of summer classes (at their own expense). Students must work with an academic counselor to ensure all AP scores and approved educational goals are properly on the student account to ensure students are on track for their eligibility requirements. Counselors can submit a Promise Program Special Request form on behalf of the student for review, but approval is not guaranteed. 

You can use your bookstore voucher to purchase textbooks, access codes, small classroom electronics (such as calculators and flash drives) and school supplies. Vouchers cannot be used towards the purchase of clothing, gift cards, gifts, food, cosmetics, or consumer electronics (such as laptops or tablets). You can make purchases online or in-person. 

In-Person: Visit the Saddleback College Bookstore on the first floor of the College Center and use your student id number at checkout.

Online: Visit the Saddleback College Bookstore website to make your purchases. On the checkout page, select the "Book Voucher" checkbox and enter in your student ID number to access your voucher funds. If it's your first time purchasing online, you will need to create an account first.

Important Information

Tip for Success: Avoid waiting until the last minute to buy your textbooks. Shopping early helps you avoid long lines and ensures better availability of more affordable options, such as used or rental books to stretch out the voucher funds.

Reminder: Make sure to complete your purchases before your voucher expires to take full advantage of the funds available to you. Book voucher funds are not rolled over to future semesters.

Yes, students must upload a copy of their receipt and syllabus showing that the material is required for their class to the Promise Program Special Request form. The program cannot provide reimbursement for materials without a receipt or materials that are not required for the class. 

Contact the Saddleback Bookstore and let them know which book is needed, including the course you are enrolled in at IVC and the ISBN of the book. Please mention that you are a Saddleback College Promise student. They will request the book so that you can use the voucher funds.

Book voucher funds are not rolled over to future semesters. Make sure to complete your purchases before your voucher expires to take full advantage of the funds available to you. 

The Promise Program uses the Saddleback College application to verify your eligibility for our Program. If you have not already done so, make sure to also submit a Saddleback College application.

Please fill out our interest form to receive regular updates regarding your eligibility for the program. 

The Promise Program sends regular eligibility updates to prospective Promise students during the spring semester. Once a student meets all our acceptance requirements, they are sent a welcome email.

Official acceptance emails for the Full-Time Promise Program are typically sent out in May and June, following fall registration. This timing allows the program to confirm a student's full-time enrollment status and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements. 
To qualify as a Full-Time Promise student, students must be enrolled in a full-time course load, which means at least 12 units, including a transfer level and English, or the number approved by their DSPS counselor, as well as all other applicable programmatic requirements.

Yes, undocumented students who submit the CA Dream Act Application and are eligible for AB 540 Resident Status Exception can join the Promise Program. An undocumented student Promise Program must still meet the other eligibility requirements for the Full-Time Promise Program to join, i.e. be a first-time college student, enroll full-time, etc.

Yes, students with verified accommodations, specifically reduced course load accommodations can participate in the Full-Time Promise Program. Please get in contact with the DSPS office to create educational accommodation so that you can participate in the Promise Program.

The Full-Time Promise Program does not cover summer school tuition and fees, nor does it require students to attend summer classes. Students who enroll in summer classes must pay their summer fees to remain eligible for fall and spring.

No, the Promise Program does not pay for the college parking permit. Students must purchase a parking permit to be able to park on campus.

Some students may receive different forms of financial aid that make the parking pass free. 

Yes, a "first-time college student" is someone who hasn't attended college after leaving high school. If you took college classes while in high school, you're classified as a "Special K-12" student. These students, including those in Dual and Concurrent enrollment programs, are eligible for the Full-Time Promise Program.

Students can qualify for both the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and the Saddleback College Promise Program. Although similar in name, the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and the Saddleback College Promise Program are two distinct programs that require a Financial Aid Application.

The CCPG, previously known as the Board of Governor's (BOG) Fee Waiver, is financial aid granted upon completion of a financial aid application. It covers enrollment fees (currently $46/unit) and parking fees, but does not cover textbook vouchers, health fees, or student activities fees.

To join the Full-Time Promise Program, students must complete a financial aid application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application) and fulfill other eligibility/acceptance criteria.

Yes, the Full-Time Promise Program accepts students regardless of financial aid eligibility. To join, students need to submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application and have it received by Saddleback College (school code: 008918).

For the Part-Time Saddleback College Promise Program, eligibility hinges on qualifying for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), determined solely by submitting a financial aid application.

To be eligible for the Full-Time Promise Program, you must be enrolled in 12 units or more to be eligible. Only students who receive accommodations through DSPS are eligible to enroll in less than 12 units and receive Full-Time Promise Program benefits.