USA Today Touts UNL's Post-Eligibility Opportunities Program

[Mavric]

 

Dunn had been working as a business development intern at the National Research Corporation in Lincoln, Neb., and about three-quarters of the way into the spring semester, the company had offered her a full-time position. What’s unusual is not that a college graduate had gotten a job; it’s how she did it — by taking advantage of Nebraska’s new post-eligibility opportunities (PEO) program for its athletes, which includes scholarships up to $7,500 for internship, study abroad and Nebraska graduate school use.

“The whole program is meant to provide you these opportunities to get you the experience and expertise you need to land a full-time job,” said Stone, who works in Nebraska’s life skills department and is the PEO coordinator. “It was really neat being able to see her grow through this experience and actually be able to land a full-time job before she was even finished with her internship.”

College athlete well-being, and most recently the time demands on athletes from their respective sports, has never been a greater focus than it is today. In the spirit of those concerns, Nebraska’s PEO program launched last year with simple requirements for athletes to become involved: Any athlete who had exhausted his or her sport eligibility, completed his or her bachelor’s degree and earned a scholar-athlete ring are eligible once they attend an introductory workshop.

Currently, 84 student-athletes are eligible for the funds and 30 will have used PEO program funds by the end of 2016. This summer, one student will be interning in England, and another in New Zealand.

Athletes who meet the PEO program’s requirements have up to three years from the time of their graduation or the end of their playing career (whichever is latest) to participate in the program.

 

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[Kiyoat Husker]

Nice publicity for a pro-student/athlete program! I can't help but think this will be huge in recruiting. It pairs nicely with Nebraska's established reputation for student-athlete support.