WELCOME TO HIRE UP

Overview

The Hire UP Pilot Program provides stipends to formerly incarcerated students, CalWORKs recipients and former foster youth to help them meet the true cost of college attendance, and gain clear access to credential programs and workforce support needed to enter, participate, and succeed in California’s economy. This program may be terminated at any time or upon the disbursement of all available grant funds.

HOW IT WORKS

Students in the Hire UP program receive a financial aid award that is equivalent to working a 20–40-hour minimum wage job in California. The intent is to provide enough support so that students can reduce or eliminate the hours that they work and instead focus on completing their program of study.

For the 2024-25 aid year, new and continuing students in the program as long as they remain eligible to receive the grant. 

Note that the annual award plus all other financial aid cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance. If that is going to occur, Hire UP annual awards will be reduced until all aid received equals the cost of attendance, and then split equally over the disbursements.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible in Hire UP, you need to be one of the following:

• A current Rising Scholars student who has been released from incarceration within the last 3 years;
• A former foster youth; or
• A CalWORKs recipient

Additionally, you need to meet all these requirements:

• US citizen, eligible non-citizen, or exempt from paying nonresident tuition (AB-540 status)
• Enrolled in a certificate or degree program
• Maintain at least half-time enrollment (a minimum of 6 units)

• Remain in good academic standing according to Los Angeles Mission College policies including remaining eligible for financial aid with the college

• Completed a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and completed all paperwork requested by the financial aid office
• Must have unmet financial need determined at Los Angeles Mission College as the primary awarding institution based on the FAFSA/CADAA data at each award period
• Agree to share post-pilot employment and/or further education information

To maintain eligibility for future terms, you must:

• Stay enrolled in classes that count toward a certificate or degree program
• Stay eligible for the sponsoring program (e.g. Rising Scholars, CalWORKs, Guardian Scholars)
• Maintain good academic standing per college policy (no excessive withdrawals)
• Ensure that all conditions of the sponsoring program’s Mutual Responsibility Contract have been met

Applying for Hire UP

If you are a participant in one or more of the sponsoring programs listed above and are interested in applying, please complete the application below. Please note that we are currently at capacity, so admission will be determined based on the waitlist.

Apply here:

Hire UP Application Form

EFFECTS OF STATUS CHANGES

If you drop below full-time status, you cease to be eligible for the Hire UP grant and will not receive any further aid in that term. Awards that have already been paid will not be revoked, but no future aid will be disbursed.

Rising Scholars students who are removed from the Rising Scholars program are no longer eligible for the Hire UP grant. Make sure to follow the rules in your Mutual Responsibility Contract.

CalWORKs recipients who cease to receive CalWORKs benefits are no longer eligible for the Hire UP grant at the point that they cease to receive said benefits.   Students may be asked to provide documentation confirming they are currently receiving benefits at any point in the year.

EARNING A CREDENTIAL

The goal of the program is to provide enough support for a student to earn their credential—a certificate or degree that will allow them to transfer or find gainful employment. When a Hire UP student achieves their goal, they will no longer be eligible to receive the Hire UP grant.

HOW FUNDS ARE DISBURSED 

Hire UP awards are financial aid awards and will be disbursed through BankMobile. Students must set up their refund preferences and ensure that their addresses on their file are correct. Otherwise, they may not receive their funds in a timely fashion.  Any awards that are unclaimed or undeliverable at the end of the term will be reversed to be reallocated for the next semester’s participants.

RETROACTIVE DISBURSEMENTS

Retroactive awards will not be made.

DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULE FOR 2024-25 

There will be one disbursement made on the last week of the month; if there is not a financial aid disbursement available in the last week, the award will be disbursed on the first week of the following month.  

Primary terms (fall and spring) are 16-week periods.  Four payments will be made.

Contact Us