Limits placed on community college fee waivers

The governing board that sets policies for California’s 112 community colleges has approved new eligibility requirements for a popular financial aid program.

The Board of Governors for the state community college system on Monday adopted regulations that for the first time establish minimum academic performance requirements for students who do not pay per-unit enrollment fees.

Under the new rules, students who do not maintain at least a C-average or complete at least half of the units they attempted during two consecutive semesters would be at risk of losing their fee waivers.

Foster youth are exempt from the policy, which takes effect in the fall of 2016 and includes an appeals process.

The board was required to adopt the restrictions as part of legislation passed in 2012 that is aimed at improving graduation and transfer rates at California’s two-year colleges.