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Bank of America grant aims help DSU students with career preparedness

Delaware State University gets $1 million dollars from Bank of America for a jobs partnership to help students of color.

The initiative will help students complete the education and training necessary to enter the workforce and get on the path to success in Delaware and beyond.

It will also enable DSU to enhance existing programs like the Delaware Executive Exchange Program into an integrated set of wraparound career readiness services to meet specific skills gaps, increase internship opportunities, and develop relationships to prepare students for higher paying jobs.

DSU will be able to add to its existing programs into an integrated set of career pathways to meet specific skills gaps, increase internship opportunities, and develop stronger networks leading to good-paying jobs.

DSU President Tony Allen says the goal is getting students ready for the work world by giving them real life experiences while in school.

"Our view is that from the moment you walk into the university we should be helping you think about what your career pathway is, what you will need to make sure that you are successful, and then giving them not only the instruction they need to be successful, but also the experiential opportunity," said Allen. "So more internships, more connected mentorships that are for an extended period of time."

Allen notes this will also allow students to try a couple of areas to make sure their interests match their professional pathway.

Allen explains other benefits the money will bring.

"It also comes with some interesting expert consulting from the Aspen Institute which is really going to allow us to think really broadly about what our students need, where we see gaps as it relates to our own curriculum, what we could be doing different and then creating those real experiential opportunities for the students while they're in school so they are very ready as soon as they walk across the stage and head into the real world," said Allen.

The initiative will also allow DSU to enhance its programs and develop career-related networks that lead to good-paying jobs in a variety of disciplines and companies.

Joe brings over 20 years of experience in news and radio to Delaware Public Media and the All Things Considered host position. He joined DPM in November 2019 as a reporter and fill-in ATC host after six years as a reporter and anchor at commercial radio stations in New Castle and Sussex Counties.