City workers looking to expand their educational horizons can get help through the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, which is now accepting applications.
The scholarships are open to full-time city employees who also hold a bachelor’s degree.
More than 30 schools participate in the program by offering full or partial scholarships in fields ranging from public and business administration to computer science and public health.
Applicants should be prepared for a hectic schedule. Scholars are expected to keep their status as full-tume employees while maintaining “good standing” as a student.
Competition for the scholarships is fierce. Last year, close to 345 people applied and about 64 received scholarships, according to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
The application includes three separate essays requiring future scholars to explain their backgrounds, why graduate school is important and how their graduate studies will help city government.
The decisions are made by the colleges, who will examine leadership potential, test scores and experience.
The deadline is Nov. 19. 2012.
For information and application instructions go to www.nyc.gov/mgsp.
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Frustrated sanitation supervisors waiting to hear an arbitrator’s decision will have to wait a little longer.
It will be at least another month before Local 444 gets an answer to its grievance about section changes for sanitation supervisors.
As part of a restructuring and cost savings measure announced by former Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith two years ago, sanitation supervisors saw the number of sections they oversee increase.
The city had argued it was a way to stave off layoffs and it was in their administrative power to make those changes.
But the Sanitation Officers Union said those changes needed to be negotiated through collective bargaining.
“They changed the perameters of our contract while we are still in the contract,” said union president Joseph Mannion.
Mannion said the union is “keeping its fingers crossed.”
“Looking back at other arbitrations, when the arbitrator asked for more time, it usually worked in our favor,” he said.
One supervisors pointed out that changes have made it difficult to keep an eye on operations.
“There’s just too much area to cover and too many trucks,” he said.
———————————————————— The New York City Police Department U.S. Navy Association is holding its annual Remembrance Day ceremony on Oct. 19 at One Police Plaza.
The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. and is open to all veterans and their families.
It is designed to pay tribute to veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Rear Admiral Sean Buck will serve as the guest speaker. NYPD Det. Kevin Herlihy, who was shot by an ex-con earlier this year during a gunfight, is being honored with the Stephen Driscoll Distinguished Service Award.
Herlihy, a Navy veteran, was praised by colleagues and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly for his handling of the wild shootout in the Harlem subway station. He was promoted to Detective First Grade.
For more information about the NYPD U.S. Navy Association and the ceremony go to the group’s website www.nypdusnavy.com.
lcolangelo@nydailynews.com
