There are more than 10 million single moms in the United States, according to U.S. Census data, and only 16 percent have a college degree. Only 22 percent of single working moms earn more than $30,000 per year.
Many of these working moms would like to find a better job, but they need a better education first. And the necessary time and money for earning a college degree can be hard to come by.
Online education may help solve the time problem. Most Web-based courses have flexible schedules and, of course, there’s no travel involved.
But money, that’s another problem altogether. An online degree can cost a significant amount.
Recognizing this problem, eLearners.com earlier this year announced a partnership with three online universities — DeVry University, American InterContinental University and Walden University — to grant at least $2 million in full-ride scholarships to working moms.
The “Project Working Mom: Putting Education to Work” campaign plans to start granting scholarships around Mother’s Day. Women can apply for a “Project Working Mom” scholarship by visiting www.projectworkingmom.com.
The site also provides a database of other scholarships and information about financial aid options at dozens of online schools, along with helpful resources and assessment quizzes.
“One goal for Project Working Mom is to raise awareness of the fact that federal financial aid is not fulfilling its obligation to the adult working student, particularly the single working mom,” said Terrence Thomas, chief marketing officer for eLearners.com. “It’s a public policy issue that must be addressed.”
Colleges and universities market their programs through eLearners.com, which is offered by EducationDynamics LLC.
Winning practices
Business and Professional Women’s Foundation is seeking submissions for its first edition of “Successful Workplaces Digest,” which will be launched during its National Employer Summit in June in Washington, D.C.
Digest articles will cover promising practices, great ideas and applied research that build diverse, equitable and flexible workplaces. It is designed for busy professionals who want quick and easy-to-use ideas, the foundation said.
Submission of an article also makes employers eligible to present at the employer summit.
If you’re interested, a description of the article must be submitted no later than April 4, with the final article of no more than 500 words submitted by May 1. The submission form for article ideas is available at www.bpwfoundation.org, under Current Events. For more information, visit the Web site or call Stephanie Gans at 202-777-8990.
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