BRATTLEBORO — The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) has partnered with the Community College of Vermont (CCV) to expand pathways to promising jobs for high school seniors across the state.
To help students chart and start their career training, VCF will offer $1,000 in stipends to each student who enrolls in CCV's free early college program to pursue certificates in one of three short-term career training programs: Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Graphic Design, or IT Service Desk Specialist.
The funding is provided through the Vermont Community Foundation's VT COVID-19 Response Fund.
VCF president and CEO Dan Smith said in a news release that these programs “offer Vermont high school seniors an incredible opportunity to get a free jump start on college and career training.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, when rising numbers of high school graduates nationally are deferring or choosing not to continue their education, we are doing everything we can to make it as easy as possible for Vermont students to pursue their post-high school pathways in ways that will help them and Vermont,” Smith said.
The program allows high school seniors to take four or five college courses at no charge and receive individualized academic and career advising from CCV's advisors.
Upon completion, students earn their high school diploma and more than 30 college credits, saving them at least $4,200 in tuition.
VCF and CCV say they identified the three specific certificate programs based on findings from the McClure Foundation's list of short-term career training programs it considers “best bets” for landing a promising Vermont job quickly.
Students who enroll in the programs will receive $500 stipends in both the fall and spring semesters. The money can help cover the cost of books, materials, transportation, food, fees, or other non-academic expenses.
They will also receive enhanced advising from a specialized counselor from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). Those completing the program will earn a workforce-ready certificate and can begin looking for employment or choose to apply their credits to an associate's or bachelor's degree.
To apply to the Early College program for September, or to learn more, visit ccv.edu/apply/high-school or gotocollegevt.org. To learn more about how the Vermont Community Foundation's VT COVID-19 Response Fund is connecting Vermonters with careers, visit vermontcf.org/learning-in-transition.