Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in the Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement. This scholarship fund, which is generously supported by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, is the first such program at CUNY that is just for individuals enrolling in continuing education programs. It is open to individuals who seek to advance their careers through education and training, and who do not have access to other sources of funding that can pay for tuition and fees. Scholarship applicants may also be individuals who are unemployed or seeking a career change. 

Certificate Program Scholarship

• Covers up to 90% of tuition for full certificate programs
• Sholarship package includes invitation to special events for scholarship recipients and access to resources, such as webinars, career maps, and other support services
• Awarded to up to 10 Continuing Education students at CUNY each year
• Awards are made for programs that prepare individuals for jobs where there are currently open positions, and/or where it is projected there will be open positions in the near future

Single Course Scholarship

• Covers up to 90% of tuition for one course

These scholarships are intended to support career advancement for individuals. While exceptions may be made, particularly for those educated in other countries, scholarship awards are not generally given to those who have earned more than 60 college credits and/or an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Scholarships are paid directly to the college where the student is enrolled. Scholarships do not cover the costs of books, materials, equipment or other course-related expenses.

Students interested in the Scholarship Fund are required to meet with a Scholarship Liaison at the college where they are enrolled in order to complete an application, which includes:

• A cover sheet signed by you and the Dean or Director of continuing education at the college where you plan to enroll
• An application form
• A personal essay of up to two pages
• A copy of a pay stub from your place of employment, dated within the past three months, or proof of unemployment
• An additional page filled out by the college, if you are applying for a Certificate Program Scholarship
• A letter of recommendation from a current or former work supervisor is not required, but may also be included with your application

Upcoming 2012 Deadlines:
Friday, January 20, 2012 — for spring 2012 courses
Friday, May 18, 2012 — for summer 2012 courses

Students should submit completed applications to:
Cristian Gallardo
Associate Director of Continuing Education
695 Park Avenue East Building Room E1001
New York, NY 10065
cgallard@hunter.cuny.edu

Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement
New Parameters & Updates

Eligibility Requirements
The Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement is open to individuals who seek to advance their careers through education and training, and who do not have access to other sources of funding that can pay for tuition and fees. Applicants may also be unemployed or seeking a career change. 

While exceptions will be made, particularly for those educated in other countries, scholarship awards will generally not be made to applicants who have earned more than 60 college credits and/or already hold an associate or other higher education degree.

Two Scholarship Tracks
The courses for which scholarships are awarded may be in any field, and may be credit-bearing or non-credit. Scholarship funds can cover tuition and fees for a course or program, and will be paid directly to the CUNY college where the scholarship recipient enrolls. Scholarships will generally not cover the costs of books, materials, equipment or other course-related expenses. The two tracks are as follows:
Certificate Program Scholarship and Single Course Scholarship

Application Submission & Reviews

Overview
Students interested in the Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement must fill out an application.  Applications will only be available through Continuing Education offices at CUNY colleges.  Prospective applicants must meet with the Scholarship Liaison at the college where they plan to enroll to begin the application process. 

Each college may submit up to 10 applications per scholarship deadline. It will be the job of the college’s Scholarship Liaison to vet applicants.

The scholarship application has been revised:

• Students will indicate if they are applying for a certificate program scholarship or a single course scholarship and fill out requested information accordingly.
• Colleges will submit an application supplement on behalf of students applying for certificate program scholarships.  The supplement asks about the following (colleges can indicate if the information requested is not available):
• Hours
• Certification received upon completion
• Certifying body affiliated with program
• Number of students enrolled in the program within the last calendar year
• Number of students who completed the program within the last calendar year
• Number of program graduates who have found employment in a related field within the last calendar year
  Internships
• Employer partners

Summary of Responsibilities
Applicant Responsibilities
Meet with the Scholarship Liaison at the college of his/her choice to discuss his/her candidacy for the Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement
Complete the application, including a personal essay, and provide all accompanying documents
Submit completed application to the college’s Scholarship Liaison

College Responsibilities
The college’s Scholarship Liaison must meet with prospective scholarship applicants to discuss their work experience, educational background, and training/career goals as well as to advise them on completing the application
In the case of Certificate Program Scholarship applications, the Scholarship Liaison completes the College Application Supplement and attaches it to the individual’s application
The Scholarship Liaison collects all scholarship applications from prospective applicants and submits them to the central office
Each college may submit up to 10 applications per scholarship deadline.

Scholarship Committee
The 2011-2012 Scholarship Application Review committee includes the following members: Aldrin Bonilla, Director of CUNY in the Heights; Jonathan Bissell, Director of Adult & Continuing Education at Medgar Evers College; and Rachel Stephenson, Associate Director of Continuing Education at CUNY’s Central Office.  Applications will be judged by the review committee based on the following criteria:
Description and thoughtfulness of career goals
Demonstrated connection between current position and proposed program/course
Demonstrated connection between career goals and proposed program/course
Demonstrated financial need
Labor market demand for the occupation student will be trained for

New Website
The Helena Rubinstein Continuing Education Scholarship Fund for Career Advancement now has its own web pages on www.cuny.edu.  The pages provide information about the fund, directions on how to apply, testimonials from previous scholarship recipients, and a list of resources for both applicants and recipients.  Resources include information about the following:
How to select the right continuing education program/career, including links to federal/state labor market information and career maps
How to seek employment after training, including links to Workforce1 and sector-specific events and webinars

Scholarship Application