CLOUT Program

Computers • Literacy • Opportunity • University • Technology

In 2005, the CLOUT Program continued to offer both credit-bearing and not-for-credit employment-directed programs at the Graduate Center and Midtown Center .

  • In Westchester , our fifteen year partnership with the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) continues to be a success with enrollment increasing this year by 19 percent in the Certificate in Personal Computer Applications for the Workplace Professional program. The students must be receiving TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) and have children to qualify.
  • The Certificate in Personal Computer Applications for the Workplace Professional is a one-year, 18 credit, full-time program beginning with a combination of not-for-credit seminars and credit-bearing courses, culminating in a 280-hour internship equivalent to 6 credit hours. Immediately following completion, students engage in a full-time job search program through CLOUT until they secure employment.
  • The Associate Degree in Applied Information Technology (AS) is designed to serve graduates of the certificate program who earned a minimum 2.5 GPA and are employed full time. Students will earn 40 credits in liberal arts and Technology Systems over four semesters (16 months). In addition, the 280-hour internship, which was completed during the certificate program, is converted into six credits and is applied toward the 64-credit degree.
  • CLOUT's comprehensive support services include tutoring, counseling, 100 hours of training in non-violent conflict resolution, parenting skills, student performance review, employment preparation, and job search, and use of all University services and facilities including computer labs, e-mail, and libraries.
  • Mastercard, Inc . sponsored the Back-to-School Clothes for Kids program for 54 children of our students with brand new clothing, book bags, and supplies before the new school year in September.
  • During the holiday season, members of the Pace University community supported the CLOUT Holiday Wish List . Ninety-eight children of our students were sponsored by a Pace employee and friends of Pace and received holiday gifts such as educational toys, books, and clothing.
  • In New York City , our newest partnership in 2005 was with the Coalition for the Homeless First Step job-training program . The CLOUT program provided 27 hours of instruction in employment-directed computer application skills to 65 homeless and low-income women from March to October.
  • Pace University is a member of the Education and Work Consortium , a unique collaboration between two private institutions ( Metropolitan College of New York and Pace University ) and one public institution ( Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York ). The Welfare to Careers Project (WTCP) is a nationally replicable program developed by the Consortium that links college education to work experience and career training, with the ultimate aim of permanently lifting the working poor out of poverty.
  • WTCP serves 184 students, who are TANF eligible, and enroll at Medgar Evers College or Metropolitan College of New York to obtain a baccalaureate degree. To facilitate the dissemination of information and to collect the requisite data that supports the success of the project, Pace University's Ivan G. Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems developed a research study, database, and Web site. The purpose of the study is to determine if education in the form of a baccalaureate degree concomitant with comprehensive career counseling leads to a higher standard of living and ultimately moves participants out of poverty. The study will also ascertain if particular programs are more effective than others. Since the Welfare to Careers Project has been designed to provide comprehensive support to participants in the form of career counselors and academic support specialists, the study will also measure the effectiveness of these services.
     

The CLOUT Program received funding from the following primary sources:

  • Westchester County Department of Social Services renewed funding in the amount of $707,707 for the academic year 2005-2006 to provide education and training through the Certificate Program and Associate Degree Program to various populations on or formerly on public assistance.
  • The Education and Work Consortium renewed funding in the amount of $75,000 for January 2005-December 2005 to provide the implementation of the Welfare to Careers Project Research and Database Design.
  • The Independence Community Foundation supported the CLOUT Program with a grant of $5,000, the third year of a five year $25,000 grant.
  • Dr. V. Sadagopan provided CLOUT with a generous donation to the Alice V. Feeley Award for Excellence. Two graduates, one certificate and one degree graduate received this award at the 2005 CLOUT Closing Ceremony.
  • Lincoln Center Theater donated tickets to the CLOUT students to see Dessa Rose.
  • Christopher Wailoo provided general support to the CLOUT program with a generous donation.