Overview of the Career Stimulus Package
In an effort to educate, empower and employ adult Americans, the national Career Stimulus Package campaign will launch in Denver, Colorado on Friday, June 12, 2009. The Career Stimulus Package is a direct answer to the need for adult Americans to retool their skills for future job and career opportunities. The campaign will offer more than 100 full-tuition scholarships worth more than $4 million, job shadowing programs at some of America’s most innovative companies and a 40-city Empowerment Tour across the country offering free career counseling services and fund-raising for additional adult-driven scholarship dollars.
Why is the Campaign So Important?
The lack of education among America’s adult population is a silent issue that needs to be addressed. There exists a disconnect in how the United States looks at financial opportunities in higher education for the adult population; while almost all funding for higher education goes to students aged 15 to 19,the majority of the population is 25 and older and desperately in need of financial aid assistance to pursue higher education.
- Declining global competitiveness: The United States has long been among the world's leaders in ensuring access to higher education for its people. However, the United States now ranks 10th in college attainment for 25- to 34-year-old population, down from third in 1991, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.
- Lack of preparedness for American jobs: Currently, 75 percent of new U.S. jobs through 2014 require some type of postsecondary credential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that almost 7.5 million of the 15 million net new jobs the economy will create by 2016 will require postsecondary education.
- Non-college graduates affected most by a recession: Historically, unemployment rates are highest for those workers lacking a college degree. In April 2009, the unemployment rate for non-HS graduates and HS graduates was 14.8 and 9.3 percent, respectively. Compare that to an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for those who have a bachelor’s degree.
- Limited financial aid available for adult students: According to FinancialAidSuperSite.com, scholarships and grants for adult students represent less than 2% of the available resources.
- Confusing process to apply for financial aid: For the typical household, the 5-page, 127-question long Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is longer and more complicated than an income tax return. The financial aid process is particularly difficult for low income students, according to University of Michigan associate professor Susan Dynarski.
The Scholarships
The Career Stimulus Package campaign will award full-tuition scholarships to adults who have applied through www.careerstimuluspackage.com. The scholarships will allow deserving adults to earn an online degree tuition-free. Eight online schools are participating in the campaign, offering scholarships from the associate's level to the Ph.D. level. To apply for a scholarship, applicants must submit a short application and essay describing their goals, why they want to go back to school and past instances of triumph over adversity. The participating schools will select the recipients based on the essay component of their application. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is October 31, 2009.
Job Shadowing
The individuals selected to receive scholarships will also receive a one-week, paid intenship/job shadowing opportunity with one of the Career Stimulus Package participating companies. This job shadowing opportunity will provide scholarship recipients the chance to learn more about the industries in which they have interest, and will also offer the opportunity to network with professionals. In total, nine companies are participating in the job shadowing program. The job shadowing participants are the same as the scholarship recipients, which will be selected in November 2009.
The Empowerment Tour
The "Empowerment Tour: Educate. Empower. Employ." will travel to approximately 40 U.S. cities across the country by RV. The tour will launch in Denver on June 12 and conclude in Los Angeles on September 9, 2009. The tour will offer free 15-minute career laser coaching sessions to help Americans discover what is holding them back and the strategies needed to move toward success. The two participating career coaches will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (hours subject to change) Interested participants will need to submit an application for a full-tuition scholarship prior to registering for a session with a career coach.