Four-year degrees at Green River now eligible for funding from Worker Retraining program
Big news for students pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Green River College. Washington state’s Worker Retraining program now supports four-year degrees.
For those unfamiliar with this particular program, Worker Retraining offers free tuition assistance to qualifying students who are pursuing a degree that is career or technical in nature. Historically at Green River, the program oftentimes covers 100% of tuition and fees, and in some cases, can even assist with required book costs.
Over the past two decades, Worker Retraining has helped thousands of Green River students access the support needed to retrain for a new job or career without having to incur school-related debt. Now, this innovative tuition assistance program is poised to help even more.
“I am thrilled that students at Green River College who are wanting to pursue a BAS are now eligible for Worker Retraining funding,” states Green River Workforce Education Director Jayme Kaniss. “With the cost of college tuition continuing to skyrocket, being able to use Worker Retraining funding to obtain a BAS is a win-win for students, the college, and the Washington state workforce!”
There are multiple ways to qualify for Worker Retraining. Honorably discharged Veterans, displaced homemakers who have lost the support of a partner or spouse, unemployed, underemployed, and vulnerable workers — including those who have been recently laid off, are collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits, have exhausted Unemployment Insurance benefits, or are currently working in a declining industry — are all encouraged to apply for assistance by visiting www.go2collegefree.com. (You can also read more about Worker Retraining eligibility criteria here.)
Until very recently, Worker Retraining funds have only supported qualifying students enrolled in a two-year career / technical degree program, but thanks to a recent statewide policy update (effective July 1), eligible Worker Retraining students enrolled in a four-year degree program at a public community or technical college may also receive funds from the program.
This policy change, recommended by the Workforce Training Customer Advisory Committee, is an enormous win for BAS students at Green River and throughout the community / technical college system. Empowering Worker Retraining to support Bachelor of Applied Science degrees represents another groundbreaking education innovation, one that provides clear pathways to re-employment for dislocated and vulnerable workers across Washington state.
Apply for Worker Retraining tuition assistance at Green River College by visiting www.go2collegefree.com.
With addition questions about Worker Retraining eligibility, contact Sandra Davidson at sdavidson@greenriver.edu or David Krause at dkrause@greenriver.edu.
