A tuition and fees waiver program for dislocated workers in Westmoreland and Fayette counties will be offered by Westmoreland County Community College in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board of Westmoreland/Fayette and PA CareerLink.

The program is open to workers who have lost their jobs due to plant closing or layoffs that occurred on or after January 1, 2008 and is designed to target workers who have not been reemployed or have found work at substantially less wages.

The “Just in Time Workforce Development Program” will apply to high-priority occupation programs, as defined by the state, that also have plentiful job openings in the region. 

The tuition and fee waiver will apply to the following WCCC credit certificate and noncredit workforce programs which will be conducted at the Youngwood campus: 

Credit Certificate Programs

Accounting – Computer Accounting and Tax Specialist

Business – Small Business Management

Early Childhood Education

Office Technology – Medical Administration Option

Office Technology – Office Administration Option

Machine Technology

Computer Numerical Control Technology

Welding Engineering Technology

Noncredit Workforce Development Certificate Programs:

Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B)

Nurse Aide Program

In addition, the Medical Administration certificate will be offered at the WCCC New Kensington Center, which recently opened on Fifth Avenue in New Kensington and the Office Administration certificate will be conducted at the WCCC Fayette County Center, located in the Community Action building on Beeson Boulevard in Uniontown.

“We worked with the Workforce Investment Board and CareerLink to select the WCCC programs most beneficial to dislocated workers and our region,” said WCCC President Steven C. Ender.

The programs are scheduled to begin May 4 and end August 17.  Classes will meet two, three or five days a week, depending on the program.

“Our goal is to give folks the skills they need in a relatively short period of time that will put them back in a job by the fall,” said Ender.

William Thompson, WIB executive director, said that workers in a temporary layoff situation may also apply for the waiver.

“They can use this time to update or enhance their job skills while they’re laid off and that could put them in a better position for when they are called back to work or if they have to look for another job,” said Thompson.

“While Westmoreland County has not experienced the severe economic downturn that other parts of our country have, there are still many people impacted by the nationwide financial climate,” said Westmoreland County Commissioner Chairman Tom Balya.

“This is a great opportunity for displaced workers to refine their skills, or learn new ones, so that they are better equipped for other job opportunities.  I commend the community college and the WIB for responding quickly to meet the needs of our workers in these challenging times,” Balya said.

Students will be required to apply for all federal and state financial aid programs for education and training.  The tuition and fees costs not covered by financial aid will be equally shared by WCCC and WIB. 

Credit program tuition and fees total $86 per credit for Westmoreland County residents and $162 for Fayette County residents, who are normally charged a double tuition rate.  Costs for the noncredit programs vary by program.

Interested people must apply at the PA CareerLink offices in New Kensington, Uniontown and Youngwood. These centers will determine eligibility.  Once the applicants have been approved, they may begin the admission process at WCCC through the College Learning Center.  Dislocated workers may apply for the tuition waiver program through April 24.

“Because these students may have trepidations about returning to school and may be unfamiliar with the enrollment process, our staff in the College Learning Center will help each student individually each step of the way,” said Ender.

In October, the college and the WIB will re-evaluate the program based on demand, resources and the economic situation, to determine if it will be continued.

“We’re trying to help an immediate problem but we don’t know how deep it will be,” said Ender. “This will give us a chance to look at demand and resources.”

For more information, dislocated workers should contact the following:

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