Career Pathways Initiative
The Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) is a grant-funded program that enables Arkansas Tech University to offer help to qualifying parents. CPI aids parents in overcoming the barriers that keep them from receiving the training and education needed to succeed in today's workforce. Career Pathways provides associate degree and technical certificate seeking parents with services and resources needed to capture high wage / high demand careers.
Career Pathways provides a framework for connecting a series of educational programs with integrated work experience and support services. This combination of structured learning creates achievable stepping-stones for career advancement and increases the pool of qualified workers needed by Arkansas employers.
Features of the Career Pathways program include:
- Enhanced student services such as intensive advising, life skills workshops, career assessment, job search skills, and job placement assistance.
- Outreach via community-based organizations.
- Assistance with transportation costs, books, tuition, supplies, and testing fees (Assistance is limited by available funds, program guidelines, and state priority goals.)
- Educational tools such as: a laptop loaner and Wi-Fi hotspot loaner programs.
Eligibility is determined via the following income and/or categorical eligibility categories:
- Parent of a dependent child (under 21) and residing in Arkansas. This includes custodial and noncustodial parents, parents who are justice-involved, or minor parents who are not head of household
- Student must either:
- Have a household income that is less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Line guidelines.
- OR be a current or former TEA recipient, or current SNAP, Medicaid or ArKids recipient
Program Director
Jessica Spicer
Student Services and Conference Center
(479) 508-3347
jspicer3@atu.edu