The Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has been awarded $303,664.00 for the 2020-21 academic year.
The grant represents an increase of almost $40,000 as compared to the 2019-20 CPI award for ATU-Ozark.
Career Pathways is an economic development program funded through a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant that is awarded to Arkansas community colleges by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. The grant is designed to assist low-income parents in meeting their educational and career training goals that will ultimately lead to a high-demand, high-wage career. Career Pathways is designed for students interested in completing training and immediately entering a career field that will help their family become self-sufficient.
The annual Career Pathways budget is based on the enrollment, graduation and employment rates of the participating students. The additional funds will increase the support students are able to receive.
Students qualify for the program based on family size, income and employment goals.
“CPI empowers parents to become college graduates by providing academic and financial assistance to qualifying students and has positively impacted over 1,000 parents and 4,000 children in the region,” said Jessica Spicer, Career Pathways director at ATU-Ozark.
Career Pathways students at ATU-Ozark during the 2018-19 academic year earned 188 academic credentials with a 98 percent employment rate.
Single parents seeking more information about the CPI program at ATU-Ozark may visit www.atu.edu/ozark/cpi.php.
