NW-Shoals to aid Tiffin employees
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
PHIL CAMPBELL – Northwest-Shoals Community College is doing what it can to help county residents affected by recent layoffs at Tiffin Motor Homes in Red Bay.
The school will extend a 50 percent tuition waiver to all displaced Tiffin Motor Homes employees.
NW-SCC President Dr. Humphrey Lee has decided to assist the 296 affected employees seeking training or retraining through programs offered by Northwest-Shoals Community College.
The tuition waiver of 50 percent will be granted to eligible displaced workers of Tiffin Motor Homes enrolling in college beginning fall 2008 and ending fall 2010.
This waiver will assist displaced workers in securing the necessary skills to re-enter the workforce, school officials said.
The Alabama Community College System seeks to provide accessible quality educational opportunities, promote economic growth and enhance the quality of life for the people of Alabama.
"At Northwest-Shoals, we feel it is our responsibility to provide this community with the opportunity for training. Education is vital to improved living standards and continued fiscal growth for our area," Lee said.
According to Joel Parris, NW-SCC Financial Aid Director, the college recognizes there is a compelling need to respond rapidly to meet the needs of these displaced workers and the tuition waiver makes it possible to begin their retraining sooner.
"Delayed approval time is often an issue with some assistance programs," Parris said.
"This waiver makes it possible for the former Tiffin Motor Homes employees to initiate their retraining while awaiting further assistance."
The tuition waiver is restricted to displaced workers of Tiffin Motor Homes who are not eligible to receive funding under Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) or other similar and/or related state and/or federal workforce assistance programs; and for whom substantial tuition assistance cannot be secured from other sources.
NW-SCC will hold an informational meeting July 28 at 6 p.m. in the Red Bay High School Cafeteria.
