A commitment to supporting students and the community with scholarships and stipends to those eligible, and new training programs leading to high-paying jobs
Miami, May 19, 2020 – Miami Dade College (MDC) has launched MDC Cares, a comprehensive program to help students and the community achieve their educational and career goals in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From stipends for eligible students and expanded scholarships to new workforce programs, MDC will provide significant support for those registering during the summer and fall terms.
“Our top priority is serving our students, and we want them to know they can count on us,” added MDC’s executive vice president and provost, Dr. Lenore P. Rodicio. “We have created a robust plan to support all students and help restore the local economy to build a stronger Miami.”
Through MDC Cares, the College will expand several existing scholarship programs, including its groundbreaking American Dream Scholarship, which offers eligible Miami-Dade County high school students a free college education, and the Last Mile Completion Scholarship designed to help individuals who left college with 13 credits or less remaining to complete their associate degree. MDC will also offer a wide array of support services for military and veteran students, including a housing stipend.
“The goal is to accelerate students toward completion and jobs,” said MDC’s interim president, Dr. Rolando Montoya. “MDC CARES aims to remove all barriers to completion, and we are grateful for the generous support from the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Government, the Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation and the MDC Foundation.”
MDC is also committed to rebuilding South Florida’s economy. Other components of MDC Cares are aimed at helping individuals who are unemployed refine or learn new skills.
This month, the College began offering online professional development courses in the areas of technology, business, marketing, education, and entrepreneurship at no cost. From cybersecurity to teaching certification, classes are designed to meet employment needs swiftly and efficiently. Classes are open to anyone 18 and older and scholarships are available. For a full list of classes and to register, please visit http://www.mdc.edu/upskill or call 305-237-7489.
MDC’s new Kick-Start Your Career program includes 13 unique certificates in high-demand fields, including Homeland Security, Digital Marketing, and Enterprise Cloud Computing. Students will receive a stipend and financial aid to cover the cost of tuition and fees during the Summer and Fall 2020 term. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu/kickstart.
In addition, MDC’s top-notch career studio, MDC WORKS, is fully equipped to support students as they launch their careers, including a variety of professional development workshops, employer information sessions, networking opportunities, virtual hiring events, resume writing, interview preparation, and access to nearly 2,000 jobs and internships. To learn more, visit www.MDCWORKS.org or call 305-237-9675 (WORK).
For more information about MDC Cares, please visit www.mdc.edu/mdc-cares.