IBEW Local 2323 Free College Benefit
It is with great pleasure I share with you the new agreement we have reached with Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC). This new partnership will provide Local 2323 members and their families the opportunity to earn participating online Associate Degrees and certificates from EGCC in Ohio with no “out of pocket” costs for tuition, fees or e-books. “Families” is defined as spouses, children, dependents, grandchildren, siblings and in-laws. In today’s environment with the overwhelming college debt, this new benefit provided to our members, retirees, and their families can have a huge impact financially.
The Programs
For 2018, students will have the opportunity to enroll in the following programs:
- Business Management Degree
- Human Resources Concentration/ Business Management Degree
- Health Care Management Concentration/ Business Management Degree
- Marketing Concentration/Business Management Degree
- Finance Concentration/ Business Management Degree
- Business Management Certificate
- Accounting Concentration/ Business Management Certificate
- Accounting Degree
- Patient Navigator Certificate
- Criminal Justice Degree
- Associate of Arts Degree
- Paralegal Degree
- Early Childhood Education Degree
- Associate of Individualized Study Degree
To be eligible, Local 2323 Members who want to enroll in the school’s participating online programs will be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as any required subsequent verification, and apply any Pell grants or state grants to their tuition. In addition, students will be asked whether they have access to any employer sponsored tuition assistance and asked to apply any available funds to the tuition and fees charged as a result of enrolling in EGCC’s online courses. Local 2323 Members, retirees or their families, who may qualify for any benefits under any Veteran’s Educational Benefits, will be required to apply for and complete any necessary documentation for such benefits. If it is determined that the student is not eligible for federal and/or state financial aid or employer tuition assistance, or such aid and assistance is insufficient to cover the cost of tuition and fees, a last dollar scholarship will be applied to any remaining balance for tuition and fees. The cost of the e-books is included in the fees, so students will have no costs other than equipment (computers, software, etc.).
Eastern Gateway Community College is a public, nonprofit, regionally accredited school. They accept many previous credits toward their degree programs and credits earned by EGCC are transferable to other institutions. EGCC has a call center in Cranston staffed with union members from OPEIU who will help our members and their families through the process of enrolling in a degree or certificate program. In addition, they will assist in working with us on the transfer process to further your education.
According to the Sanders Institute, “more than 44 million Americans are caught in a student debt trap. Collectively, they owe about $1.4 trillion on outstanding student loan debt. The rising cost of college tuition has vastly outpaced inflation and average wages. In fact, the cost of attending a public college or university has increased 350% since 1980”. This is a great opportunity for us, as members of IBEW Local 2323, to change this vicious cycle for our families.
If interested in taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, please go to the website www.ibewfreecollege.org or call 1(888) 590-9009. Obviously, if you have any questions regarding this new benefit you can call the Union office at (401) 946-2323.
Sincerely,
Steve Murphy
Business Manager
I.B.E.W. Local 2323
