Pocono News Section

College Offers Free Semester

College Offers Free Semester - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 3:38PM EST

TANNERSVILLE - A local college is giving away free classes.
Don Henning's full time job is to find a job, and pay his bills in the meantime.

"I'm trying to get through to the unemployment office," he said while visiting Monroe County Career Link. He spent a half an hour at the office trying to get through to unemployment.

"You pick it up, it dials, you get a busy signal, you hang up, you hit it again, and you keep doing it 'till you get through," he explained.

Career Link manager John Casella said it's hard to get through because so many people have lost their jobs recently. "You do see an increased energy out there, individuals seeking employment," said Casella.

People like Don want to work but they don't always have the education or training they need.

Hennings said, "I was in the grocery business for twenty some years and they let me go."

Now there's a way for people like him to learn some new skills for free. At Northampton Community College he can sign up for 12 college credits and pay nothing.

"I'm gonna go over and stop and see what they're offering," said Hennings.

Anyone who has been laid off and lives, or worked, in Northampton or Monroe Counties is eligible.

Monroe Campus Dean Matt Connell said, "It's just our way of trying to help the community weather this difficult financial and social situation we're in."

The college will pay for you to learn new skills in high demand fields like nursing and biotechnology.

Casella said, "Usually additional training will help you find that employment."

It won't cover books or supplies but it could help people like Don get the push they need to find new careers.

This isn't the first time the community college has offered the program. It also did in the mid 90s and early 2000s.