Year Up Wilmington and Wilmington University launched a new partnership that will target adults, ages 18 to 24, from underserved communities who are unemployed or underemployed to attend college and launch professional careers.
In Wilmington, there are over 10,000 young adults who are disconnected from opportunities, representing 13 percent of the young adult population in the area.
The partnership will use curriculum that is market driven and based on the immediate and projected employment needs of local corporate partners.
So far, the learning tracks focus on anti-money laundering, customer service, cyber security, data analytics, helpdesk/desktop support, and investment operations. During the first six months, the students learn technical and soft skills needed to succeed in a professional environment. During the second six months, the students intern at local corporate partners.
“Our strength is placing young adults with talent in positions that companies are trying to fill,” stated Hassan Charles, Year Up Wilmington Executive Director. “I am amazed by our students’ motivation, drive and commitment to succeed. Year Up Wilmington provides them with the opportunity to showcase their strengths, reliability and skills to local employers. We are especially pleased with the high salaries our graduates are reporting.”
Previously, Year Up was located in the Community Education Building and was launched through a partnership with Peirce College. Year Up has relocated to Wilmington University’s New Castle campus. So far, two classes have completed Year Up with an 85 percent graduate success rate (gainfully employed or re-matriculated into college within four months of graduation). The average salary for full-time graduates is $40,768 and the average starting salary for part-time graduates attending college is $34,413.
The partnership with Wilmington University will reduce student expenses through shared resources for classrooms, professors, financial aid counselors, tutoring and library resources. The benefits are providing young adults from underserved communities with the opportunity to enroll in college at no cost, earn up to 24 college credits without incurring debt, received a modest stipend, intern at a leading company and achieve gainful employment. Equally important, the partnership will allow Year UP to rapidly increase enrollment without adding significant costs to serve more young adults, a release stated.
“We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a degree and become a productive member of the workforce and society,” says Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne T. Harmon. “We’re proud to partner with Year Up to offer young people a variety of academic programs that provide the skills they need and the credentials businesses require.”
The partnership is working with BNY Mellon, Capital One, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Blackrock, Veolia, and Exelon. Studies have shown that Year Up is more cost-effective than hiring off the street and Year Up graduates remain with their employers for 45 months in comparison to 18 months for talent using more traditional sources, the release stated.
