Family Economic Security Program

Whether you are looking for employment because you were recently laid off, playing with the idea of switching careers, trying to enhance your skills and volunteer a few hours a week in your field of study, need help updating your resume or typing up a cover letter for a job posting—our career development coordinator has your back!

Resume

If you’re looking to meet with the career development coordinator to work on your resume or update it, please bring a digital copy of it. It can be on a flash drive.

Cover Letters

If you plan on working on your cover letter, please bring a copy of the job posting and description that you have in mind to apply to. This will give both you and the career coordinator the chance to understand what to reference in your cover letter.

Career Assessments

Not sure if you’re taking classes for the right career in mind? Have a lot of interests but aren’t sure how to strategize them toward a career? Our career development coordinator will give you a variety of assessments to provide you with a narrowing view of your career potential.

Meetings with the career development coordinator are by appointment only.

Persistence points are a framework for recognizing academic achievement, school persistence, and engagement with FESP. Points are earned for a defined set of accomplishments. Persistence points takes an expansive view of FESP participation and the new behaviors we want to promote, so the activities are grouped in buckets related to academics, work and career, financial management, etc. Some could be actions, such as speaking on behalf of the program, and others could be rewarding specific achievements.

FESP Persistence Point Awards

Financial

Career

Academic

Professional Development

“Cashing In” Persistence Points

Persistence points accumulate during the FESP member’s career at Housatonic. Points expire at three years after they are issued and are only redeemable by properly registered Housatonic students.

Tip #1: Research which college is best suited for you

The cost of college is going to vary greatly on where you plan on attending. These monetary amounts only cover the basic tuition needs and do not include special fees like lab fees, meal plans, etc.

Consider also location and flexibility. While the University of Bridgeport is more expensive, maybe you’d be saving on childcare, transportation, and more by attending there than commuting to Southern State University. Take into account how many credits the college will accept. Most 4-year schools will take up to 60 transfer credits. However, a school like Charter Oak College will take up to 90 transfer credits. That’s 30 extra credits that you could be taking at Housatonic or another community college that you will get at a reduced cost, or possibly free if you are receiving a Pell Grant.

Tip #2: Compare financial aid packages and negotiate with your schools

Why will schools do this? If another school is after a student, there must be promise and potential in that student. If you one day become a renowned individual in your field, that is free Marketing for the school. They will advertise your name and what you have accomplished. This in turn will attract students to the school, all for the cost of $0 to the school. Investing in your tuition could only help the college in the long-run.

Tip #3: Make sure you have all the required application materials

Some of these include:

• Application fee. You can have up to 4 college application fees waived by CONNTACT. Some colleges will also allow fee waivers as long as you provide evidence of financial challenge.
• Official transcripts from all institutions. Sometimes, this includes high school transcripts, depending on the school. What makes a transcript official is when the envelope’s seal has not been broken. Once the envelope on the transcript has been opened, it is no longer official.
• Some schools require high school SATs.
• Personal statement: this is what you will spend most of your time working on and perfecting. It is what is going to make you stand out from other applicants because you get to share about yourself and your story and why you deserve to be a part of their campus community.
• Completed application form.
• Recommendation letters from professors (usually 1-2).
• Resume.
• Other test scores, like the TEAS V for nursing students.

Tip #4: Check with schools what courses will and will not transfer

Commonly, schools will not accept professional degree courses like Human Services, Psychology, Business, Early Childhood, Criminal Justice, Medical Assisting, Paramedic Studies, etc. They will accept courses that will fulfill your General Studies requirements, like History, Biology, English, Philosophy, Introductory Psychology, Math, and Art History.

Search for the college or university’s transfer equivalency software on their website. State schools have these readily available, whereas in private schools, you need to sit down with an advisor and ask specifically about the transfer agreement programs that they have.

Tip #5: Certificate Courses will not transfer

Any courses taken through a certificate program will not transfer to the 4-year school.

Tip #6: Developmental courses will not transfer

Any course that has a 0 before a number will not transfer. For example MAT 095, ENG 055, etc.

Moreover, be careful of what the minimum requirement is for coursework for a program. For example, an engineering student at the 4-year school is expected to take a minimum of Calculous I for their Math requirement. Even though other programs at the school will take College Algebra, that course will not be transferred if the student is enrolled in a program that requires a higher course as the minimum requirement.

Tip# 7: Get to know your professors

Your professors have been to college before, so they know professors from their institutions, colleagues and former classmates who work at other institutions. They can always put in a good word for you, so it’s important that you make that effort to network with your professors.

Tip #8: Go visit your college or university of interest and meet with the head of your program

Applications are what administrators see all the time. But meeting someone in person can make or break your potential at a school. Try to set up an appointment with the head of the program that you plan on meeting with. Tell them about your aspirations and interest in the school. Make sure you bring your unofficial transcript and resume so you can show what a dedicated student you are.

Why is it important to meet with the head of program? They’re the ones who are in the know for scholarships specifically for their program. If they find you are an excellent candidate for the program, they may slip you a few application secrets.

My anticipated graduation date is June 2024 and my careers goals are in engineering. I can start off by saying that I love HCC. My experience has been phenomenal, and I love being a student here. It has made my life so much better because my professors and people like my coaches at FESP have helped me in so many ways. I’m able to stay focused on things I want accomplish, have enjoyed workshops to help me with money and learn ways to save. And, just knowing that someone has my back is so reassuring.”
– Victoria

“I feel so proud to be a part of FESP. When I was invited to join, I wasn’t sure if I would be a good candidate. Unbeknownst to me, it was a blessing in disguise. I went thought some of the hardest times during the fall of 2021. FESP was there to move me forward and encourage me through my depression. Ezhana was so essential that words could never enough to express how grateful I am to have her as a coach. I am sad it is coming to an end but happy for the experience.”
-Casey

“My coach is amazing. She helped me through my toughest time. She helped me with my school situation. Overall, she hears my problem when I am stressed and gives me wonderful feedback. The program is amazing and I had wonderful experience.”
-Jeanette

“The FESP Program serves as a good support for single mothers, who are unaware of resources to make their education journey easier. As a FESP program student, I had the knowledge of the college resources and events I wouldn’t have otherwise. The workshops were all helpful and will be used in my long-term goals. My coach, Ezhana was a great representative of the program. She’s a great motivator and helped me to keep me on track. Her words of encouragement have been a great help in getting me toward the end of my journey at Housatonic.”
-Tanesha

“In such a short amount of time, this program has helped me tremendously! And for that I am forever grateful. It has also opened my eyes for the future. Katrina is a huge inspiration and hopefully can be my mentor. And let’s not forget about Dean Avant. What an amazing, phenomenal woman. Words cannot express the emotions I feel about her. #grateful. Grateful for you all, thank you!”
-Leola

"FESP supported me to be more motivated and confident in transferring to Southern Connecticut State University. FESP became my community and support system. It was hard transferring at first, but speaking with the FESP staff helped me to reach my goals and prevented me from giving up, because I truly was ready to drop everything. At my four-year school, the sense of community was lacking. The school was larger, and the people weren’t as supportive. It would be so great if there was a FESP on every campus. I didn’t know any resources that were available, and it was even the FESP staff that were able to seek out those resources from me all the way from HCC. FESP is like my family."
-Jessy, Student at Southern Connecticut State University in Public Health

“Being a student of HCC and having the opportunity to be a participant of the FESP program is the best thing that happened in my schooling at HCC. The most life changing reason why I feel this way is because of my career coach. She has helped me with creating a professional resume and cover letter that has grabbed many interviewers’ attention and has guided me in the etiquette of interview skills. She also takes time out of her busy schedule to prepare me and give me practice interviews before the "main event." Most importantly, she treats me with respect and goes above and beyond my expectations: she listens, motivates, and encourages me to excel beyond what I ever thought I was capable of accomplishing.”
-Perla, Business Administration student

“FESP has helped my college experience by helping me find stability.”
-Lucretia, student

“FESP is my anchor. This program has helped me realize my dreams and goals. It has motivated me to make my goals attainable.”
-Jenny, accepted into UCONN’s engineering program for Fall 2017

“FESP is run by extraordinary people who advocate for us by supporting and encouraging us to complete our goals and strive for bigger goals. They supply us with the knowledge and finances to get to the other side of life’s hurdles. Our success is their success.”
-FESP Participant

“FESP to me is family. This program is my support system to finish school on the right track.”
-Iesha, Housatonic Communications student

“FESP is important because they keep me motivated. When I am discouraged, I have someone I can reach out to. I am a single mother, and sometimes I just need to talk to someone. FESP is there for me. The financial support is also key to have helped me when I needed it most as I was just laid off work.”
-Arlene, Housatonic ’17 Graduate

“FESP has helped me figure out how to manage my time and money. They also help me keep my head on straight and focus on my goals. FESP is the reason I've stayed in school. With all their help, I've been able to continue my education and I'm very grateful for everything they offer.”
-FESP Participant

“FESP has helped me begin to achieve my financial and academic goals! They have helped me rebuild and establish my credit by coaching and providing me with the proper necessary resources.”
-Jackie, Housatonic Business Management student

“When I felt everything was going wrong and I couldn't do anything right, and I wanted to quit, my advisor said I was doing great and told me all the strong positive things she saw in me. She gave me just what I needed to keep going.

“FESP has also helped me financially by getting my car in a state that was safe to drive for my family, and to reliably get me to and from school when it was falling apart.”
-FESP Participant