Spring Break
Graduate campus offers new grants
Omkar Baxi
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: News
In order to combat the economic downturn and increase Drexel University's impact on the Sacramento region, the Center for Graduate Studies will offer "Bridge to the Future" grants for unemployed applicants to Drexel's California campus.
According to Carl "Tobey" Oxholm III, dean and chief executive officer of the Sacramento Center for Graduate Studies, the grant will cover half of the tuition for unemployed applicants until they secure another job, or until the economy turns around.
California is one of the states that has been hit the hardest during the economic recession, and the Sacramento area is possibly in the worst economic condition throughout the state. At the same time, the region has historically experienced a cycle of economic booms and downturns and expands at a furious pace during positive economic conditions, according to Oxholm.
In light of the recent economic conditions, Drexel University wanted to send a direct and dynamic message to businesses and individuals in the area to show the University's strength and its place in the region, Oxholm said.
"When the rebound comes, [the Sacramento region] needs to be ready to catch the wave. Drexel's "Bridge to the Future" grants will help prevent 'brain drain' and allow those who will power our region's future growth to use the time now to improve their knowledge base and skills," Oxholm said.
The grants will not be offered to undergraduate and graduate students at Drexel's Philadelphia campus, according to Melissa Englund, assistant vice president for Enrollment Planning and Retention Services. Instead, Philadelphia students must go through an appeals board to look at major financial changes, similar to the process for existing students at the Sacramento Center.
"The economic conditions in Philadelphia and Sacramento are different - the California economy has been hit much harder. At the same time, Drexel is new in the Sacramento region and still trying to set up its name - as a result, the aid options offered at both campuses are different," Englund said.
According to Carl "Tobey" Oxholm III, dean and chief executive officer of the Sacramento Center for Graduate Studies, the grant will cover half of the tuition for unemployed applicants until they secure another job, or until the economy turns around.
California is one of the states that has been hit the hardest during the economic recession, and the Sacramento area is possibly in the worst economic condition throughout the state. At the same time, the region has historically experienced a cycle of economic booms and downturns and expands at a furious pace during positive economic conditions, according to Oxholm.
In light of the recent economic conditions, Drexel University wanted to send a direct and dynamic message to businesses and individuals in the area to show the University's strength and its place in the region, Oxholm said.
"When the rebound comes, [the Sacramento region] needs to be ready to catch the wave. Drexel's "Bridge to the Future" grants will help prevent 'brain drain' and allow those who will power our region's future growth to use the time now to improve their knowledge base and skills," Oxholm said.
The grants will not be offered to undergraduate and graduate students at Drexel's Philadelphia campus, according to Melissa Englund, assistant vice president for Enrollment Planning and Retention Services. Instead, Philadelphia students must go through an appeals board to look at major financial changes, similar to the process for existing students at the Sacramento Center.
"The economic conditions in Philadelphia and Sacramento are different - the California economy has been hit much harder. At the same time, Drexel is new in the Sacramento region and still trying to set up its name - as a result, the aid options offered at both campuses are different," Englund said.
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