WVNCC Helps Dislocated Workers
With the goal of stimulating the economy through education, West Virginia Northern Community College will provide free tuition and fees to dislocated workers who are West Virginia residents who wish to register for classes in one of a wide range of programs at the institution.
The offer is for those workers who have been laid off or dislocated within the past 180 days. Participants will be asked to begin courses of study by the summer ’09 term which begins May 26 or the fall ’09 term which begins Aug. 22.
Additional details on the tuition and required fee funding are available by attending one of three open houses scheduled from 2-6 p.m. as follows: Tuesday, May 5, Wheeling campus, B&O Building auditorium; Wednesday, May 6, Weirton campus, open lounge area; or Monday, May 11, New Martinsville campus, Room 115.
“Dislocated workers often find the job market is closed to them because of a lack of education; they are forced to re-invent themselves,” Dr. Martin J. Olshinsky, Northern’s president, said. “This tuition-free program is a viable and valuable option for them.”
According to Janet Fike, dean of enrollments management at Northern, the college will be providing free tuition and fees for the courses required, including developmental courses, to complete these programs to students who want to begin one of the following:
Degree-seeking Certificate Program (CP) in Appliance Repair, Business Career Studies, Computer Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Health Care, Industrial Maintenance, Medical Assisting, Paralegal, or,
Continuing Education online programs of study in Home Inspector Career Skill-set, Real Estate Online, Medical Transcription, Office Administrator Training, Office Specialist Certification Training, Medical Billing Career Skill-set.
Fike explained many of the CP classes are offered on any of the WVNCC campuses (Wheeling, Weirton and New Martinsville) but some programs such as Appliance Repair and Culinary Arts have classes that only are available in Wheeling.
The dean explained, “Students must apply for federal and state financial aid and those eligible for aid will be awarded those dollars prior to any free institutional dislocated worker money.” Fike added, “This program is not designed for students who will be receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance or Workforce Investment Act funds which would affect their eligibility for those programs.”
The open house informational sessions will be conducted by campus staff and will include academic counseling, financial aid information and assistance, admissions application assistance and program brochures with specific course requirements available.
Funding for the program is substantial but limited and college officials urge those interested to act quickly. Interested persons who are not able to attend one of the events should contact their nearest campus at 304-233-5900, Wheeling; 304-455-4684, New Martinsville; 304-723-2210, Weirton, extensions 8838/8848.