Facing a national shortage of early childhood educators, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) have teamed up for an innovative solution: paying students to reduce their hours at their jobs in favor of taking more classes. The goal is to make students, many of whom work while attending school part-time, more likely to complete a credential while putting new workers into the pipeline more quickly.
Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, associate dean of equity, justice, and strategic partnerships at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education and executive director of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges
The Early Childhood Residency Program allows CCV students to receive $3,500 towards living expenses for a term. To apply, students must write a short essay about how the funding would allow them to increase their course load. CCV and SVMC anticipate funding 8-10 applicants.
The money for the program comes from congressionally directed funds that the SVMC received through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The hospital received two tranches of money: one to expand their childcare center and one to increase the center’s staffing. The second tranche led to the partnership with CCV.
The program’s unique structure arose from discussions between the two organizations. SVMC’s initial idea was to fund scholarships. But CCV told them that there was already plenty of federal and state aid available to cover tuition and fees.
“Right now, students can access our programs in early childhood education at low or no cost,” said Dr. Leslie Johnson, an associate academic dean at CCV. “So, this program is removing one of the additional barriers that might prevent them from being successful.”
James Trimarchi, director of planning at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
