Contact: Bob Spieldenner
(804) 225-2628
bobspieldenner@schev.edu

May 22, 2024

RICHMOND – The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) awarded a two-year $100,000 grant to Old Dominion University (ODU), continuing support for their efforts to transform on-campus Federal Work-Study jobs to function more like internships. SCHEV awarded the grant as part of the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Old Dominion University received a previous implementation planning grant in spring 2023 to plan for the transformation of federal work-study at the institution. This latest grant allows ODU to take the next step with a test effort to transform some positions.

“V-TOP is excited that Old Dominion University’s Center for Career & Leadership Development will continue work to transform Federal Work-Study with the pilot Federal Work-Study Internship Program in Fall 2024,” said Alisha Bazemore, assistant director of innovative work-based learning initiatives. “ODU is the first institution to submit a proposal and receive funding to move from the planning stage and pilot internship-like Federal Work-Study positions on campus.”

“This is a huge step in the direction of reducing barriers to internships for ODU students and a great stride toward the university’s goal for 100% student participation in a work-based learning experience,” added Lisa Moser, ODU’s associate director of the Center for Career & Leadership Development.

Public institutions of higher education can submit proposals sequentially for grant funding to progress through the three tracks of the Federal Work-Study transformation process: implementation planning, piloting and scaling.

V-TOP is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It is funded by the General Assembly’s Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program.