Foster Youth Support Programs
San José City College (SJCC) is dedicated to serving current and former foster youth throughout their academic endeavors. Our two foster youth student success programs, NextUp and Guardian Scholars, provide support services to encourage the enrollment, retention, and transfer of current and former foster youth at SJCC.
NextUp
The NextUp Program offers support and resources to current and former foster youth attending San José City College (SJCC). It is a supplemental program housed within the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOP&S) department.
Eligibility
- Be a current or former foster youth whose dependency or wardship was established or continued by the court on or after your 13th birthday
- Be no older than 26 at the start of any academic year in which you first enroll in the program, or have been previously certified for NextUp
- Provide proof of dependency. The Foster Care Ombudsman’s Office at 877-846-1602 provides former foster youth in California with Dependency Letters (also called Verification Letters or Ward of the Court Letters). Submit a request using the Foster Youth Help Verification Request Form.
- Enroll in at least nine units (exemption available with a Student Accessibility Services referral)
- Priority registration
- Academic counseling
- Assistance with school supplies
- Lending library (textbooks and calculators)
- Free printing
- Potential grants for additional educational expenses
- Community building opportunities
- Personal and life skills training and support
- Referral network for on- and off-campus services
- University and cultural field trips
- Cap and gown
- Meet with an EOP&S counselor three times each semester (fall and spring), with appointments four to five weeks apart
- Complete program orientation and mutual responsibility contract
- Enroll in at least nine units
- Exemption available with a Student Accessibility Services (SAS) referral
Guardian Scholars
The Guardian Scholars Program (GSP) provides support to former foster youth attending San José City College (SJCC) who are not NextUp eligible. Guardian Scholars is an independent program housed within the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOP&S) department.
Eligibility
- Former foster youth: Someone who has been in foster care, no matter the length of time.
- Dependent or ward of the court: Someone who has received protection from the court and may have had a legal guardian appointed either by the court or by parental consent.
- Emancipated minor: Someone who is a minor (under age 18 in California) and is no longer under parental control.
- Orphaned: Someone whose parents or legal guardians are deceased.
- Living with kin (arranged formally or informally): Someone whose care is provided by relatives or extended family members for any number of reasons.
- Priority registration
- Academic counseling
- Lending library (textbooks and calculators)
- Free printing
- Community building opportunities
- Personal and life skills training and support
- Referral network for on- and off-campus services
- University and cultural field trips
- Cap and gown
- Meet with the Guardian Scholars counselor three times per semester
- Complete program orientation and mutual responsibility contract
- Enroll in at least three units in the current semester
How to Apply
- Request a copy of your Dependency Letter
- Complete the EOP&S/NextUp/GSP Application
- Connect with our team
Contact Us
- EOP&S NextUp/Guardian Scholars Program Counselor/Coordinator
- Julio Flores
- julio.flores@sjcc.edu
- EOP&S NextUp/Guardian Scholars Program Specialist/FYSI
- Laura Zepeda
- 408-298-2181 ext. 3203
- laura.zepeda@sjcc.edu
- Robert N. Chang Student Center, SC-201, second floor
- Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.