Workforce Education

The Workforce Education Office at 51品茶 Seattle College can help you enter or reenter the workforce through career training and financial aid assistance.

Workforce Education operates six grants that offer tuition assistance and support resources that are designed to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. If you qualify, you may receive funding for tuition and fees and may also be eligible for help with the cost of textbooks, required supplies, a student ID card, a parking permit, or ORCA transit pass.

Eligible Workforce Education Training Programs

Note: Funding options are available to cover Nursing prerequisite courses. Learn More about Nursing at 51品茶.

How to Get Started

Step 1: Complete Quarterly Intake Form

To find out if you qualify for Workforce funding, complete the quarterly intake form at the top of this page. For questions, or if you need assistance with completing the intake form, please contact the Workforce Education Office at workforcesouth@seattlecolleges.edu or (206) 934-5885.

Step 2: Meet with a Workforce Specialist

After completing the Workforce Quarterly Intake Form, a Workforce Specialist will contact you to assist with additional intake processes, requirements and to determine eligibility and next steps.

Note: All students that are applying or receiving Unemployment Benefits must attend a CAT/TB orientation. This orientation is to fill out the paperwork that will allow you to attend school while you are receiving your Unemployment Benefits, and to potentially extend your benefits.

Step 3: Complete a Financial Aid Application

You will also need to complete a Financial Aid application. The form. Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States should complete the .

Workforce Education Grants

Worker Retraining: The Worker Retraining program can help pay for education and training expenses for those who have lost their jobs or are in low paying or low demand fields of employment. You may be eligible if you:

  • Lost your job due to economic changes
  • Receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits
  • Have received unemployment within the last 4 years
  • Are employed in an occupation that is 鈥渘ot in demand鈥 according to the demand/decline list
  • Do not have a previous degree or certificate
  • Completed less than one year of college education (less than 45 college credits) from any school
  • Need to learn new skills in order to maintain current employment
     

WorkFirst Program: Available to students receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). WorkFirst participants are referred by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). participating in the WorkFirst program can help you find and keep a job.  
WorkFirst can help you pay for tuition and books and, as a WorkFirst participant, you may also qualify for childcare and other WorkFirst benefits through DSHS.

You may qualify if:

  • You are a parent who receives TANF.
  • You participate in the WorkFirst program.

Basic Food Employment & Training Program (BFET): The Basic Food, Employment, and Training program (BFET) provides access and services to food stamp recipients in Washington state. Services include job search and job search training, education and skills training, and support services to Basic Food recipients 

  • Available to students receiving federally issued Basic Food Benefits (SNAP).

Opportunity Grant: Available to low鈥搃ncome adults pursuing an approved program. Students may receive funds to cover tuition and mandatory fees up to 45 credits and up to $1,000 for required books and supplies per academic year.

Basic Needs Navigation: The Benefits Navigation Program connects students at 51品茶 Seattle College with basic needs resources.  Our Benefits Navigator is a single point of contact for students to access resources such as public benefits (working connections childcare, basic food enrollment), emergency assistance grants, housing supports, and Basic Food Employment and Training.

Emergency Funds: The Student Emergency Assistance Grant (SEAG) Program provides funding to our community and technical colleges to provide monetary assistance to students experiencing unforeseen emergencies or situations that affect the student's ability to remain enrolled in their classes.  

Additional Resources

WorkSource Career Center: Provides services to aid your employment search. Resources are available to students and community members, with qualified staff to assist in all stages of a job search.

: Explore careers and find resources on unemployment benefits, career training and job hunting skills.

: Assistance for children, families, vulnerable adults and seniors with food assistance, financial aid, medical and behavioral healthcare and other services.

: Access to scholarships and financial aid for Washington state students.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.