The GW School of Business and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development announced last week that they would provide tuition discounts for recently fired federal workers impacted by President Donald Trump’s workforce reductions.
The schools are offering 20 percent discounts to former and current federal employees and government contractors who are seeking an advanced degree at GW, according to releases by the two schools. The announcement comes after the Columbian College of Arts & Science and the College of Professional Studies both introduced similar discounts last month.
The recent announcements of tuition discounts come after the Trump administration has laid off thousands of employees across agencies, like the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Amid cuts to the government workforce, the administration has eliminated contracts with certain government contractors.
The administration has also pushed federal employees to voluntarily resign, promising to pay them through September. The push comes alongside other initiatives driven by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency to attempt to cut government spending, which Trump tasked with driving large-scale “structural” reform within government agencies.
GSEHD’s discount applies to current and former federal workers, with degree-seekers required to upload proof of civil servant employment or affected status as a part of their application, according to the school’s release. CCAS and CPS also offered their discounts to both current and recently dismissed federal workers.
“This initiative reflects GSEHD’s commitment to supporting career transitions and equipping professionals with the skills needed for long-term success in education and human development,” the release states.
According to the release, GSEHD’s discount only applies to its on-campus programs — except for the doctorate in human and organization learning program — the school’s only hybrid program, according to its website.
To be eligible for the discount in GWSB, potential students must submit an admissions application by June 1, along with a copy of a dismissal letter from a federal agency or government contractor. The discount applies to workers who have been laid off since Jan. 1 and will last for the duration of their education at GW, according to the school’s release.
“Our goal is to provide opportunities to expand professionals’ knowledge and skills,” Vanessa Perry, interim dean of GWSB, said in the release. “With a history of attracting leaders from both public service and the business world, our school serves as a home for those with backgrounds in government to leverage their skills in any sector.”
