Patrick Leahy: “I rise today to talk about a unique education program nestled in the hills of Burlington, VT. Champlain College is one…”

“I rise today to talk about a unique education program nestled in the hills of Burlington, VT. Champlain College is one of the many higher education institutions in my home State and it has distinguished itself as a leader in career-oriented education. Under the leadership of President Roger Perry, Champlain College provides its students with innovative distance learning and workforce development programs to build the skills of Vermonters. While I have long known of the quality offerings of Champlain College, I was very pleased to see a story in the Los Angeles Times recently about one program in particular that serves single parents on welfare who want to earn a college degree. With the recent reform by the Federal Government of our Nation's welfare system, many individuals are seeking training that can lead to better jobs and ultimately to increased wages. In response to this growing need, an 11-year-old program at Champlain College aimed at moving single parents off welfare is receiving attention nationwide. The impressive statistics from this public-private partnership clearly indicate its success--less than 10 percent of those participating in the program drop out; most in the program earn a 2-year associate degree; and, many even go on to receive a 4-year bachelor's degree. According to President Roger Perry, more than 90 percent of the single parents who graduate from this program have not returned to the welfare program.”