Dreams of brighter futures are being fulfilled this spring at Laredo Community College, thanks in part to a TEXAS grant of $977,900.
LCC Enrollment Manager Rick Moreno said that this year’s TEXAS grant award to LCC is the largest initial amount received to date since the grant program’s inception in 1999.
The TEXAS grant, an acronym for Towards EXcellence Access and Success, was established by the Texas Legislature to help deserving high school graduates with financial need go to college. The state grant, in combination with other state and federal aid, pays tuition and fees at the state’s public colleges and universities.
That’s good news for students planning to study this spring semester at LCC, Moreno said. Registration for the new term begins on Monday, Oct. 31.
“The initial funding allocated to Laredo Community College at the beginning of each instructional year has increased throughout the years since the TEXAS grant was launched in the fall of 1999,” Moreno said. “Furthermore, LCC has been extremely successful in requesting and receiving additional allocations during past academic years.”
The TEXAS grant awarded to LCC for fall 2005 and spring 2006 is expected to assist approximately 770 college freshman students, Adriana Marin, interim director of financial aid, said.
“The TEXAS grant program has been a great success at LCC,” Marin said. “LCC has always used 100 percent of the allocated funds for the benefit of students.”
To receive assistance from the TEXAS grant, the student must be a Texas resident, be free of any felony convictions or crime involving controlled substances, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), demonstrate financial need based on the FAFSA application and complete the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.
The student also must enroll in a non-profit public college or university in Texas within 16 months of graduation from a public or accredited Texas high school, and have accumulated no more than 30 semester credit hours, excluding those earned for dual or concurrent courses or awarded for credit by examination.
Students are encouraged to apply early to be considered for assistance. An online application is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Registration for the spring 2006 semester at LCC will begin on Monday, Oct. 31 via the college's On Line Enrollment (OLÉ) system on the web at http://ole.laredo.edu.
The OLÉ system will be available through Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Students who need assistance should visit the LCC Admissions/Registration office at the LCC main campus at Memorial Hall, room 125 or at LCC South at the Billy Hall Student Center, room 113.
Students who register between Oct. 31 and Jan. 4 have until Thursday, Jan. 5 by 5 p.m. to pay their tuition and fees. Students who desire to pay their tuition and fees with a credit card have until 11 p.m. on Jan. 5 to pay it on the OLÉ Web system.
Students who need advising from a faculty member or counselor can take advantage of advising in department offices and the Counseling Center from Oct. 31-Nov. 3, Nov. 3-10 and Nov. 14-17. Advising will be conducted from 1 to 7 p.m. Walk-ins and advising by appointment are welcome.
The spring course schedule may be viewed online at www.laredo.edu.
For more information about spring registration activities, call the LCC Admissions/Registration Office at 721-5109 or 794-4110.
Office of Marketing and Public Information
West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
956- 721-5140
Fax 956-721-5443