Employees facing layoffs from General Motors, take heed.
Davenport University, which is based in Grand Rapids with operations in Warren and Detroit, is offering scholarship money and a discount on professional development courses to any laid-off hourly or salaried workers.
"It sounded like it was a sudden announcement and the workers might need other options," said David Lawrence, Davenport's vice president of admissions and strategic partnerships.
Lawrence is referring to GM's Nov. 26 announcement that it will close three assembly plants by the end of 2019: Detroit-Hamtramck, Lordstown in Ohio and Oshawa in Ontario; and two transmission plants.
More than 6,200 jobs are at stake: roughly 1,500 in Hamtramck; 1,600 in Lordstown; about 2,500 in Oshawa; and a total of 645 at transmission plants in Warren in suburban Detroit and near Baltimore. Many UAW workers will have the opportunity to transfer to other plants, but some are nonetheless likely to be out of work.
In addition to the production cuts, GM said it will reduce its North American white-collar workforce by about 8,000.
The offer
Davenport's Lawrence said the school realized it could help those people about to lose their job and, "One of the most tangible ways to serve them is by providing a scholarship."
Davenport is offering an $8,000 scholarship to employees who get laid off for up to two years after the plants' expected closure in 2019. The person will continue to receive the scholarship until graduation.
The scholarship goes toward a degree in business, technology and health professions or the employee could get 20 percent off of professional development courses, Lawrence said.
Davenport University W.A. Lettinga Campus in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Photo: Davenport University)
Davenport is also offering complimentary career services for the next year including career assessments and transition strategies. The school has about 20 professionals to help train people for job interviews, résumé writing and cover-letter development, said Lawrence.
Additionally, Davenport's career services team will host workshops for these people throughout the year.
School jitters
Lawrence admits the idea of returning to school is intimidating and sometimes unrealistic for many adults who have been away from the classroom for a long time. Money might also be tight for some people, he said.
He said Davenport works to help adult students transition if they have been out of school for many years. It has tutorials and other programs to help them remove any academic barriers of entry.
College of Business for Davenport University (Grand Rapids) (Photo: Davenport University)
Students can also apply for federal aid, receive a Pell Grant and other scholarships beyond the $8,000 that Davenport provides.
Some workers will not want to pursue a degree program. They could chose a professional development course to gain skills in project management, human resources, supervisory management and leadership, said Lawrence. Those are shorter courses that offer certifications so that a person can than apply for a specific position.
"They can apply to the university now and start going through the process and can have an exact cost and a plan on what it takes to finish their degree and look at the programs that can help them," said Lawrence. "They don't have to commit to it, but they should start looking at it and considering their options."
Those interested in the scholarship will have to provide employment verification including a recent pay stub, a letter from GM verifying employment or a copy of their employee badge. They can learn more at davenport.edu/generalmotors.
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com
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