The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a relatively new program at Longwood University. It is in its third year here with the Office of Disability Resources. Although it is still in the process of forming and reaching out to gain interest, the program has been around since 1995.
The WRP was formed by the Department of Labor and brought to college campuses in Virginia. This program links students registered with the Office of Disability Resources with job opportunities in the federal government sector.
To be eligible at Longwood, a student must be registered with the Office of Disability Resources, and for any other school, they must be registered with theirs as well. The other schools that offer this program are Lynchburg College, Radford, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia State University, as well as Richmond public schools and many community colleges across the commonwealth.
The coordinator for the program at the university is Longwood alumnus and Disability Resources Program Coordinator Cameron Patterson. He is the main contact with the WRP's main offices.
There is a very wide range of employers who offer jobs and internships to students. They include the Department of Labor, Department of Defense, Army and Naval bases in Virginia and even NASA, which is the most popular. Getting a job or internship at one of these places is highly beneficial.
The goal and purpose of this program is to break down barriers in the work place. "Our students are more than their disability and can be successful in the work place," said Patterson.
The Office of Disability Resources also collaborates with the Academic Career and Advising Center, which helps the students prepare and make resumes. They also give space for recruiter visits.
Any students interested in a possible job or internship should email the Office of Disability Resources at disabilityresources@longwood.edu to register. There is an upcoming interview date on Oct. 20. This information can be found on the university's website at www.longwood.edu/disability.
