Baytown, TX — Lee College has received a $1,182,574 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as part of the Job Corps Scholars Program, a new national demonstration project that provides at-risk youth and young adults with job skills instruction, educational opportunities and individualized employment counseling.
Lee College was one of 20 colleges and universities selected to receive the DOL Job Corps Scholars Program grant totaling nearly $24 million.
“It is an incredible honor to be awarded this grant from the U.S. Department of Labor,” said Dr. Lynda Villanueva, Lee College president. “This award is evidence of the hard-working, student-minded team we have here at Lee College. As a result of this amazing opportunity, our communities will prosper, and people’s lives will improve. That is at the very heart of higher education, and it encompasses everything we do at Lee College.”
The college will provide training in certificate programs for in-demand fields including welding, pipefitting and millwright that can be completed in less than one year at the McNair campus in Baytown.
There is still time for students to enroll in the program for the Fall 2020 semester. To be eligible for the Lee College Job Corps Scholar Program, students must be 16 to 24 years of age and demonstrate a financial need. Eligible students will receive financial assistance with tuition and fees. Students will also benefit from personal and employment counselors’ services to support them through the duration of the program and to guide them toward employment after they complete the program.
“The Job Corps Scholars Program provides all the skills and knowledge a student needs to begin a meaningful career in today’s economy,” said Dr. Veronique Tran, Lee College vice president of instruction. “The program sets students up for success, even in the face of adversity. We are grateful for this opportunity from the U.S. Department of Labor, and we are excited about what the future holds for our institution and for the students who take advantage of this spectacular program.”
The first fast track program lasts 13 weeks and runs Sept. 14 through Dec. 9. The courses are being held Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the McNair Center in Baytown.
Courses will be offered with a combination of online instruction and hands-on labs following social distancing and safety procedures. For those who do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Job Corps Scholars Program, some seats will be available and students may apply for financial aid to assist with the cost of the program.
Sixty-five percent of the total costs of the Job Corps Scholars program will be financed with Federal money and 35 percent will be financed by non-governmental sources.
To find out more about the Job Corp Scholars Program, contact Frances Parent, fparent@lee.edu or 281.425.6456.