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Announcing: The First Morton Bahr Scholarships
Empire State College Honors CWA's President with Creation of "Distance Learning" Degree Program
Empire State College of the State University of New York has announced the creation of a special “distance learning” college scholarship program named in honor of CWA President Morton Bahr, who himself is an alumnus of the school.
Applications are now being accepted for an initial 15 Bahr Scholarships for the 2001-2002 academic year beginning this September (see instructions for How to Apply). Empire State expects to increase the number of scholarships to between 30 and 40 when the endowment is fully funded.
Full tuition funding toward either 2-year or 4-year degrees will be continued as long as students maintain satisfactory performance. Empire State offers a wide range of study courses in the liberal arts, incuding business, technology, and labor studies, through its Special Studies Programs for Distance Learning.
Through distance learning, Bahr Scholars may reside anywhere in the world. Studies can be completed entirely over the Internet, or else students can opt for a traditional correspondence approach using print materials and regular mail.
The program is geared toward giving adult workers with full-time jobs an opportunity to pursue college studies in their spare time at home. Priority will be given to applications by CWA members and their family members and domestic partners, although it will be open to other workers as well.
Many students will receive a boost toward their degrees through academic credit for previous education and training as well as for life experience in various fields as deemed appropriate by Empire State.
The program is intended to “honor the commitment to educational opportunity and the farseeing vision of Morton Bahr,” college officials said in announcing the scholarship endowment.
Bahr, who has been a leader in promoting lifelong learning, completed his college studies at Empire State in 1983. His earlier college work was interrupted by Merchant Marine service during World War II.
Goals for the Bahr Scholarships include:
Application and Program Procedures
Scholars will apply directly to the SUNY Empire State College’s Center for Distance Learning using a program-tailored application form (see below for how to receive the application materials).
Scholarship awards will cover all fees for tuition and special services along with an allowance for study materials and books of $130 per course.
Students who are accepted for the program will be eligible for scholarship funding as long as they complete at least one or two courses per semester (4 to 8 credits) and make satisfactory academic progress. During the first term, scholars must also apply for any other federal, state, corporate or union financial aid for which they are eligible.
Academic Support Services
Bahr Scholars will receive an individualized assessment at the start of the project and at key transition points to identify any skills deficits, such as reading, writing and mathematics, and to resolve any barriers to success.
Students are assigned a faculty mentor and an instructor for each course. Help is offered for using networking technologies, finding library resources, sharpening study skills and even career counseling. In addition, an online Bahr Scholars Roundtable will allow students to exchange information and pursue collaborative projects.
Special Thanks to Major Donors
The Bahr Scholars Endowment currently is funded in the amount of $600,000, and Empire State is seeking further donations to achieve a funding level of at least $1 million to expand the scholarship offering.
So far generous contributions of at least $100,000 have been offered by several major CWA employers — SBC Foundation, AT&T, and Verizon Foundation — as well as by the TASK Foundation headed by Theodore Kheel.
How to Apply
To receive application forms and instructions for the Bahr Scholarships:
Bahr’s Commitment to Educational Opportunity
In announcing the scholarship program, here’s how Empire State described Morton Bahr’s commitment to education and lifelong learning for workers:
Empire State College of the State University of New York has announced the creation of a special “distance learning” college scholarship program named in honor of CWA President Morton Bahr, who himself is an alumnus of the school.
Applications are now being accepted for an initial 15 Bahr Scholarships for the 2001-2002 academic year beginning this September (see instructions for How to Apply). Empire State expects to increase the number of scholarships to between 30 and 40 when the endowment is fully funded.
Full tuition funding toward either 2-year or 4-year degrees will be continued as long as students maintain satisfactory performance. Empire State offers a wide range of study courses in the liberal arts, incuding business, technology, and labor studies, through its Special Studies Programs for Distance Learning.
Through distance learning, Bahr Scholars may reside anywhere in the world. Studies can be completed entirely over the Internet, or else students can opt for a traditional correspondence approach using print materials and regular mail.
The program is geared toward giving adult workers with full-time jobs an opportunity to pursue college studies in their spare time at home. Priority will be given to applications by CWA members and their family members and domestic partners, although it will be open to other workers as well.
Many students will receive a boost toward their degrees through academic credit for previous education and training as well as for life experience in various fields as deemed appropriate by Empire State.
The program is intended to “honor the commitment to educational opportunity and the farseeing vision of Morton Bahr,” college officials said in announcing the scholarship endowment.
Bahr, who has been a leader in promoting lifelong learning, completed his college studies at Empire State in 1983. His earlier college work was interrupted by Merchant Marine service during World War II.
Goals for the Bahr Scholarships include:
- Enhancing educational access for union members and other workers through distance learning.
- Reaching out to new and under-serviced audiences, including minorities and women.
- Providing workers with requisite skills to use technology effectively in college studies, in the workplace and in lifelong learning.
Application and Program Procedures
Scholars will apply directly to the SUNY Empire State College’s Center for Distance Learning using a program-tailored application form (see below for how to receive the application materials).
Scholarship awards will cover all fees for tuition and special services along with an allowance for study materials and books of $130 per course.
Students who are accepted for the program will be eligible for scholarship funding as long as they complete at least one or two courses per semester (4 to 8 credits) and make satisfactory academic progress. During the first term, scholars must also apply for any other federal, state, corporate or union financial aid for which they are eligible.
Academic Support Services
Bahr Scholars will receive an individualized assessment at the start of the project and at key transition points to identify any skills deficits, such as reading, writing and mathematics, and to resolve any barriers to success.
Students are assigned a faculty mentor and an instructor for each course. Help is offered for using networking technologies, finding library resources, sharpening study skills and even career counseling. In addition, an online Bahr Scholars Roundtable will allow students to exchange information and pursue collaborative projects.
Special Thanks to Major Donors
The Bahr Scholars Endowment currently is funded in the amount of $600,000, and Empire State is seeking further donations to achieve a funding level of at least $1 million to expand the scholarship offering.
So far generous contributions of at least $100,000 have been offered by several major CWA employers — SBC Foundation, AT&T, and Verizon Foundation — as well as by the TASK Foundation headed by Theodore Kheel.
How to Apply
To receive application forms and instructions for the Bahr Scholarships:
- Call 800-867-5941 and request application materials.
- Send an email to Linda.Frank@esc.edu.
- Or write to:
- Special Programs for Distance Learning
SUNY Empire State College
Three Union Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 - Go to the website www.esc.edu/cdl
Bahr’s Commitment to Educational Opportunity
In announcing the scholarship program, here’s how Empire State described Morton Bahr’s commitment to education and lifelong learning for workers:
- “Morton Bahr is recognized as one of the world’s most influential union leaders. He is renowned in the international labor movement for his leadership in promoting cross-border alliances and cooperative campaigns. He is also the labor movement’s leading expert on technology and information-based industries.
"Mr. Bahr is especially noted for groundbreaking leadership on worker education issues. He has made the Communications Workers of America an education-driven union and has negotiated many nationally recognized worker education programs.
"A vice president of the AFL-CIO, he chairs the federation’s Worker Education Committee. In 1996-98, he chaired the Commission for a Nation of Lifelong Learners, which completed a far-reaching two-year study of adult learning needs. President Bill Clinton appointed him to the 21st Century Workforce Commission.
"A model of lifelong learning in his professional and personal life, Morton Bahr graduated from the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor at Empire State College in 1983.
"Since he became its president in 1985, the 740,000-member CWA has emerged as the nation’s leading union for professional, technical and information-age workers."