St. John’s Launches Program To Assist Alumni During Economic Downturn

Alumni Assistance Program Offers Career Advice, Discounted Graduate Tuition

St. John’s University has launched a new program to support its alumni during this economic downturn.  Graduates of the University who have lost their jobs within the last six months and are struggling to find work in these tough times will have a place to turn to for guidance in the job search process or to enhance their skills with an advanced degree.

“The Alumni are forever part of our St. John’s Community,” said Rev. Donald J. Harrington, President of St. John’s University.  “Today we reach out to them in the spirit of caring and concern that has always been central to our University’s mission with what we trust will be meaningful assistance during these difficult times.”

The Alumni Assistance Program uses the technological capabilities of the University’s Career Center, which provides a list of available jobs and will work to assist alumni in identifying their professional strengths and attributes to find the best fit and to succeed during the interview process.  The Career Center also works with Alumni who are in need of qualified employees in their own professional areas and provides networking tools, helping to connect over 100,000 alumni with similar professional expertise. 

Alumni interested in furthering their education can do so through the Alumni Assistance Program’s benefit of a 50% tuition discount for graduate programs, with the exception of the School of Law.  St. John’s will offer the opportunity to obtain a graduate degree – at half the original cost – to alumni who have been laid off within the last six months and who enroll in a degree program in either the spring or summer of 2009.  The discount is effective for up to two years and, the University will waive the application fee for alumni who choose to take advantage of this offer.

A series of Professional Development Workshops have been scheduled for the Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island campuses where those interested can learn more about the Alumni Assistance Program.  Career, Academic and Financial Aid counselors will all be on hand to provide assistance in several key areas including: choosing a graduate program, identifying possible career changes, honing their interviewing skills and updating their resumes.

Alumni Assistance Professional Development Events

To RSVP for a Professional Development Event, please register here or call (718) 990-5736.  To learn more about career opportunities available to alumni, please visit the Career Center website or contact Laura Smith at (718) 990-1322.  Alumni interested in posting job opportunities should contact Jennifer Friary at (718) 990-1321, or by e-mail to friaryj@stjohns.edu.     

For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Reilly, Assistant Director of Media Relations at St. John’s by calling (718) 990-5789, or by e-mail to reillye@stjohns.edu.