SNHU Unveils its Alumni Assistance Program
SNHU offers tuition break for alumni hurt by economy
By Garry Rayno New Hampshire Union Leader Staff Saturday, Mar. 21, 2009
MANCHESTER – Out-of-work Southern New Hampshire University alumni and their families may use their free time productively: by taking half-price graduate courses.
The university's Alumni Assistance Program is designed to help those who are most hindered by the economic downturn, said President Paul LeBlanc.
The program is part of an on-going effort by the university to make programs more accessible during the economic downturn, he said. He said SNHU has a three-year undergraduate business program and its Advantage Program, which offers two years of undergraduate courses at a savings of 60 percent the school's centers in Portsmouth, Salem and Nashua.
The Advantage Program, which has received national media attention, allows students after two years to receive an associate's degree or use the credits toward an undergraduate degree.
The Alumni Assistance Program targets the substantial number of school alumni who live around the college's three centers and the main campus in Hooksett, LeBlanc said. Participants must have lost their jobs on or after Sept. 1, 2008.
Those participating may enroll in all graduate programs and courses, including Global M.B.A., School of Business master of science programs and graduate certificates, master of education, and the Burlington, Vt., Center community mental health and field-based education programs.
Students must meet regular graduate admissions requirements, but the discount and course allotment may be applied to graduate foundation courses.
The program is available during the March and June graduate terms and is open only to new graduate students. The discount is for up to two graduate courses a term and for two consecutive terms, or a total of four classes.
Graduate students often juggle work, family and education, taking a course or two toward their graduate degree, LeBlanc noted.
He did not know how many students might be interested in the new assistance program. "We see this as a service to alumni more than anything else," he said.
LeBlanc noted the current economic downturn hit New Hampshire later than other states and to date has not been as severe as other areas of the country.
"The old rule of thumb is, in an economic recession, enrollment climbs, but I'm not so sure I believe the old rule of thumb anymore," LeBlanc said.
He did say enrollment in the university's online courses is way ahead of projection and some students are cutting back on the number of courses they take.
For more information, go to the university's Web site at www.snhu.edu/8489.asp or call Scott Durand or Amy MacDonald at 644-3102.