Online University Helps Working Parents Earn College Degrees

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford University today announced that it has partnered with "Project Working Mom...and Dads Too!" to award more than $2 million in full-ride online college scholarships to working moms and dads. "Project Working Mom...and Dads Too!" is a national scholarship initiative that aims to help remove the barriers of money, time and confidence, which often keep people from returning to school.

"Project Working Mom...and Dads Too!" is the third in a line of campaigns to help working parents return to school to better their lives and the lives of their families. The two previous Project Working Mom campaigns in 2008 received more than 120,000 applications, awarded more than $4 million in scholarships, and sent nearly 100 working moms back to school. This year, the campaign has added dads to the mix as a result of considerable interest from fathers during the first two campaigns.

This is the second Project Working Mom campaign for Ashford University. Ten previous scholarships were awarded in September 2008 and all scholarship recipients are now currently enrolled in Ashford University online degree programs. An additional 10 full-ride online college scholarships will be awarded in May 2009.

"When we first agreed to participate in the Project Working Mom 2 campaign last summer, we had no idea how much interest there would be in the program," said Elizabeth Tice, Ashford University's Provost. "The fact that we received more than 25,000 applications at Ashford University alone clearly illustrates the importance of education to working mothers across America, and that's something we just couldn't ignore. We're excited to be a part of the Project Working Mom 3 campaign and look forward to receiving applications, not just from moms this time but from dads as well."

Ashford University is one of five universities participating in "Project Working Mom...and Dads Too!" Combined, Ashford and the other four participating schools will be awarding approximately 60 full-ride online college scholarships worth more than $2 million, bringing the total of Project Working Mom scholarships awarded to more than $6 million.

"Project Working Mom started as a single campaign to help working moms go back to school, but the response was so large that we decided to launch another campaign," said Helen MacDermott, content director for Project Working Mom. "This time, however, in response to the voices of many dads, we have added a father-focused element."

eLearners.com, an online education resource that connects learners with online education and created the Project Working Mom campaigns, also created a complementary, interactive, and in-depth web site to help learners tackle their questions and fears about returning to school. The site is designed to empower working parents and offers advice on going back to school, self-assessment quizzes on numerous subjects including how to determine what subjects to study, an online support community, numerous articles, and a database with $15 billion in financial aid opportunities.

"This campaign is a much needed resource for many moms and dads who would love to pursue a new career path, but don't have the money to get the degree they need," said Carey Casey, CEO of the Kansas City-based National Center for Fathering and fathers.com. "Many dads I've talked with would love to go back to school, but they don't know where to begin and for many the biggest barrier is definitely cost. It's great to see action underway to help remove these barriers."

The full-ride online college scholarships through "Project Working Mom...and Dads Too!" are for online programs from the associate's to Ph.D. level. To apply for a scholarship, working moms and dads may submit a short application at www.projectworkingmom.com. They will also need to complete an essay with their life, education and/or career goals and explain how an online education will allow them to achieve those goals. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is April 30, 2009.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its tagline is: "Higher Education Made Affordable"(SM). For more information on Ashford University, please visit www.ashford.edu or contact Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations, at 858/513-9240 x2513.

About eLearners.com®

The eLearners.com website is one of several high visibility, high-quality prospecting tools offered by EducationDynamics, LLC. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners® provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit www.elearners.com.

    Contact: Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations
    858.513.9240 x2513 - shari.rodriguez@bridgepointeducation.com

SOURCE: Ashford University

Web site: http://www.ashford.edu/
http://www.elearners.com/
http://www.projectworkingmom.com/