P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education

Please contact Ellen Hearn at (217) 454-8432 or hearngolf@comcast.net to apply.

Policy Guidelines and Procedures
Policy Guidelines
I. PURPOSE
The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education is a need-based grant program providing one-time financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that will improve their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.

II. ELIGIBILITY
A. A woman is eligible for recommendation by a local chapter if she:
• Is a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada
• Is enrolled in an accredited certification or degree program from an accredited institution; has not already earned a master’s degree or above
• Is living and studying in the U.S. or Canada for the entire course of study
• Has had at least 24 consecutive months as a non-student sometime in her adult life
• Has begun her educational program, if the course of study is more than one term, and iswithin 18 consecutive months of completing her program
• Is enrolled in an education program which, at the conclusion of, will lead to employment or job advancement
B. A woman is not eligible for grant consideration if she:
• Is requesting the grant for use in prerequisite courses needed to secure admission into another program of study
• Is choosing immediate continuation of her education beyond the current program for which the grant is requested
• Has already earned a master’s degree or above
• Is enrolled in a post-master’s certificate or doctoral program
C. A chapter recommendation must be submitted no less than eight weeks prior to the start date of the term for which the grant is requested; however, it cannot be accepted more than 14 weeks in advance of that date.
D. Grants may be awarded for one term of academic or technical courses, including online programs offered by an educational institution in the U.S. or Canada.
E. The applications of individuals who satisfy these eligibility criteria will be evaluated on a nondiscriminatory basis without consideration of race, national origin, religious affiliation, disability or P.E.O. connection.

III. AMOUNT OF GRANT
The maximum grant is $4,000. The total grant awarded is based on the availability of funds and applicants’ individual needs. Regardless of the amount awarded, recipients are eligible to receive only one PCE grant. Grants to Canadian women will be paid in Canadian dollars unless attending an educational program in the U.S.; then payment may be in U.S. dollars if requested by the recipient.

IV. USE OF GRANT
The money is intended as a grant-in-aid for educational expenses such as:
• Tuition
• Books and supplies
• Testing and graduation fees
• Transportation (only for estimated cost of gas, parking and local bus fare, not for automobile loan payments or maintenance)
• Childcare (only while in class or studying)
• Uniforms required by the educational program
• Equipment/tools necessary for the course of study
The grant is not to be used for living expenses, to repay educational loans or personal debt.

Procedures for Sponsorship
I. INTERVIEW
When a local chapter identifies a prospective applicant, the chapter PCE chair will schedule an interview. The PCE Pre-Application Worksheet and the Pre-Application Income and Expense Worksheet, available on the PCE portion of the P.E.O. International member website, are to be used by the interviewing committee. No guarantee should be given as to eligibility or the probability of receiving a grant.

II. CHAPTER APPROVAL
Chapter approval is granted by a majority vote at a regular or special meeting.

III. RECOMMENDATION PROCESS
PCE recommendations may only be submitted electronically using the online Chapter Recommendation Form. Instructions and form can be found on the PCE page of the P.E.O. International member website. The chapter recommendation may not be written by a family member. Once the recommendation is reviewed, instructions (including the specific deadline for submitting her completed forms) will be emailed to the applicant. The student shall supply proof of enrollment for the term she is applying as part of her application process.

IV. DUE DATE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATION
Each applicant is given 30 days from the date she receives the email from the PCE supervisor to complete and submit her forms. The local chapter contact will be sent an email with the applicant’s submission deadline and should follow up with the applicant to make certain she submits her information on or before the submission deadline.

V. RESULT OF GRANT CONSIDERATION
When a grant is awarded, payment is made by direct deposit into the recipient’s bank account using the information provided during the application process. The chapter is encouraged to meet in person to present her with a PCE certificate which is available on the P.E.O. International member website. For recipients without access to a bank account and those in Canada, a check, in the recipient’s name, is mailed to the local chapter’s PCE contact as listed on the chapter recommendation form. The check should be presented personally to the recipient, preferably at a meeting of the chapter. The check should be cashed promptly; the check is void 90 days after issue date and will not be reissued. In the event the recipient is unable to begin her studies as scheduled, the grant should be returned
to the PCE office. In the event an applicant is not awarded a grant, the denial letter is sent to the applicant and a copy of the letter is sent to the sponsoring chapter. If grant denial is due to an insufficient financial plan, the trustees encourage a reapplication with an improved financial plan.

VI. CHAPTER INVOLVEMENT
Local chapters are encouraged to become involved in developing the potential of women in their own communities. The personal interest and encouragement shown by the chapter members are often as important as the grant itself in assisting the student as she faces a change in her life situation. The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education is a combined effort of all P.E.O. members, the sponsoring chapter and the grant recipient.

VII.PUBLICITY PERTAINING TO RECIPIENTS
Local chapters are encouraged to publicize their support for the PCE recipients they sponsor and share their accomplishments. However, the chapter must receive a signed copy of the P.E.O. Photograph and Publicity Consent Form from the media kit found on the P.E.O. International member website prior to sharing any personal, identifying information for their recipient on news media, P.E.O. websites or social media accounts.