Grant will support students completing college education through Seton Hill online program
Between 18 and 20 Pennsylvania residents who have fallen short of fulfilling their college goals will have a chance to finish their education through a grant-supported program at Seton Hill University.
Seton Hill is partnering with the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board to identify potential students for a Near Completer program. The program will provide financial support for students to complete their education through the university’s online degree offerings beginning June 1.
Degree options are aligned with local high-priority occupation needs and include accounting, allied health leadership, health care administration, behavioral health, business administration, human resource management and marketing, as well as a pathway for registered nurses to gain a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“Quite often, financial burdens keep students from finishing their education,” said Seton Hill President Mary C. Finger. “Through this grant program, we will be able to help them complete their degree with significant financial support and, in many cases, tuition-free.”
The Workforce Investment Board plans to reach out to local employers, community organizations and PA CareerLink centers – including centers in Youngwood, Lemont Furnace and New Kensington — to connect potential students to the program. The WIB also will communicate with employers involved in its Industry Partnerships for Healthcare and Manufacturing to create interest in hiring participating students.
The goals of the industry partnerships include identifying resources and best practices for employers to increase worker hiring and retention.
Candidates for the Near Completer program can be current, displaced or unemployed workers. They must have left higher education enrollment at any institution within the past two years and must complete a certificate or degree through Seton Hill by June 30, 2024.
“There is a need in the local area for programs that link individuals to employment paying a living wage, and the Near Completer program works to fulfill that need,” said Janet Ward, Westmoreland-Fayette WIB executive director. “By eliminating barriers, mainly the cost of tuition, this program is a great option for those interested in finishing their degree and building their careers.”
The Westmoreland-Fayette WIB has received a $475,182 Near Completer grant. It’s one of four such organizations that were awarded a combined $6 million for the program through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
“As the only program funded in Western Pennsylvania in this grant cycle, we hope to attract students from across the region and Commonwealth,” said Finger.
For more information about the Near Completer program at Seton Hill, call the Office of Graduate and Online Studies at 724-838-4208, email jwarnick@setonhill.edu or visit setonhill.edu/completeyourdegree.
For more about the Westmoreland-Fayette WIB, contact Ward at 724-755-2145 or jward@westfaywib.org
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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