DAHLGREN, Va. –
If someone offered to pay for your education, would you accept it?
According to a survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, 92% of US employers offer educational benefits to their employees and 63% of those offer tuition assistance or reimbursement.
During fiscal 21, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) invested approximately $2.5 million in their workforce and helped hundreds of employees further their education.
Speak with anyone in the Workforce Development Office and you cannot help but feel the excitement they exude to guide NSWCDD employees through the process. They see it as a win-win situation – employees are investing in themselves by doing the work, and NSWCDD benefits from the new skills and knowledge. “Dahlgren is dedicated to continuing education for the workforce,” said Academic Programs Manager Pamelyn Maynard. “To take away the financial burden for our employees is amazing. Everyone wins!”
NSWCDD has two programs available to employees for academic monetary assistance – the Academic Development Program (ADP) and the Academic Fellowship Program (AFP). Permanent NSWCDD employees, both full- and part-time, can participate in the ADP, which pays tuition and mandatory fees for up to two classes per academic term.
The AFP, however, is what sets NSWCDD apart -a competitive program that has more stringent acceptance rates than ADP, will pay for your classes and allow participants time during the regular workweek to study. Currently there are 14 NSWCDD employees enrolled in the AFP – pursuing a combination of bachelor’s, masters and Ph.D. degrees.
To apply for the AFP, employees must be enrolled in a degree program and within one year of completion for a master’s degree or two years for bachelor’s or Ph.D. Participants must also be full-time employees outside of probation period and have supervisor approval.
The Workforce Development Office and command want to inform employees of these options and begin sharing program information at New Employee Orientation. Programs must be in line with NSWCDD’s mission and require supervisor recommendation.
“I’m impressed that as a workforce, they look at this as an opportunity to invest in themselves and really take advantage of what the command has to offer,” said Maynard.
For more information about either of these programs, please contact the Academic Programs Manager at 540-653-3228 or Pamelyn.maynard@navy.mil.