Financial Aid Office

Board of Governor's Fee Waiver Program (BOGW)

The California Community Colleges offer a Board of Governors Waiver (BOGW) to help low income students pay the Enrollment Fee. The BOGW is a grant program and does not require repayment. BOGW applicants are not required to be enrolled in a specific number of units. The BOGW pays the Enrollment Fees for the academic year and Summer term.

This program is available to California residents only. To be considered a resident for California financial aid purposes, you must provide documentation of continuous residency for at least one year and one day. Do not assume that your enrollment fees will be waived automatically. Students can contact the Financial Aid Office at (510) 659-6150 for more information.

To obtain an Enrollment Fee Waiver, students must file a BOGW Application or a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Both of these forms are available at the Financial Aid Office or students may file a FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

California residents (those who have lived in California for at least one year and one day) must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible:

• Qualify for Financial Aid, such as a Pell Grant, a Cal Grant, or assistance from EOPS;
• Receive AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income), or General Relief. Students must show proof (i.e., copy of a CA-7 with current or last month’s date, agency verification,etc.);
• Be certified by the California Department of Veterans Affairs or the National Guard Adjutant General for eligibility for a dependent's fee waiver;
• Be eligible as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor or as a child of a recipient,or a dependent of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
• Be eligible as a dependent of a deceased law enforcement/fire suppression personnel killed in the line of duty.
• Meet the income standards listed below. Students should be prepared to show previous federal tax return(s) or other income verification. These amounts are estimated at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Parking permits have increased from $26 to $35 per semester so the California Community Colleges have extended the fee waiver program to include any fees above the $20 parking permit fees to help students with the cost of this increase. Students must request the $9 off voucher from the Financial Aid Office before purchasing their semester parking permits. Please note that this does not apply to the $18 summer session parking permit fees.

Once you are awarded a fee waiver, it will be applicable for the entire Financial Aid year (Fall, Spring and Summer).

BOGW Application Forms

Adobe Reader (free) must be installed on your computer to view the documents marked "PDF." (If you have difficulty opening these files, please clear the browser cache then try again.)

2008-2009 Financial Aid Year

• 2008-2009 BOG Fee Waiver Application (PDF)

2007-2008 Financial Aid Year

• 2007-2008 BOG Fee Waiver Application (PDF)
• 2007-2008 BOG Fee Waiver Application (Spanish) (PDF)

BOGW Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be a California resident, as determined by the Office of Admissions and Records, and qualify under one of the following:

1. Determined to be qualified for financial aid according to your Student Aid Report (SAR).
2. A current recipient of TANF, or SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income), or General Assistance/General Relief. You must submit proof, i.e. CR-7, agency verification, etc.
3. Have a letter of authorization by the California Department Veterans Affairs or the National Guard Adjutant General stating that you are eligible for a dependent's fee waiver. (Submit copy of letter.)
4. Meet the following income standards. You must submit a signed 2007 Federal Tax Return with all W2s and attachments and/or other income verification.