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The Community College of Allegheny County and two other colleges in the Pittsburgh area have announced they will offer tuition waivers for displaced workers. The tuition waivers apply to five high demand areas, three of them in healthcare fields: emergency medical technicians,certified nurse-aide training, and phlebotomy. The college is also setting up a Career Transition Center for Dislocated Workers. The program is similar to those enacted when the local steel industry collapsed in the 70s and 80s and again after 9/11.

County residents must submit a letter from their employers verifying their laid off status and apply within one year. Workers are eligible to take up to 36 credits over two years which, at $89.50 per credit hour, translates into an opportunity worth more than $3,000. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato explained the rationale which takes the long view. "The question is how much will it cost us if we don't help these people," he said. Linking the waivers to retraining in fields with critical workforce needs creates a double win.

Recent reporting has focused on the strain on public higher education caused by the current economic climate. A rise in enrollments as workers seek retraining comes at the same time that state and local higher education budgets are facing cuts. At least in the Pittsburgh area, some enlightened thinkers are choosing an alternative route. For more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_606506.html