The Arizona Daily Wildcat is the award-winning, student-managed and -produced news outlet serving The University of Arizona and greater Tucson since 1899. Joy Bullen is College Confidential's Senior Editor and Head of Content. Joined Sep 4, 2012. Free tuition offer from Disney. I also create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! The education program, called Disney Aspire, is 100% tuition paid and in partnership with Guild Education. It required a lot of time, dedication and support, she says. I was not sure at first if I wanted to go back to school; I did not enjoy taking a lot of classes, and I wanted to focus on my career at Disney. Disneyland currently has more than 13,000 employees enrolled in the program. Powered by, OPINION: The University of Arizona is the best school for student athletes, OPINION: Traveling to Japan showed me a different way of living. 4 UCLA, Tucson Bernie Sanders fan wants to share miniseries with senator, No spring break plans? "With Disney Aspire, we are helping employees create the futures they imagine for themselves," said Jayne Parker, senior executive vice president and chief HR officer, The Walt Disney Company. She always reminded me of my value and encouraged me to never give up, no matter how hard the road might get.. I thought you might, so sit back, relax and enjoy another magical journey through the Walt Disney Company. Drumroll, please! Disney partners with Guild Education to provide programs at schools like Purdue University Global, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Arizona, Brandman University, University of Florida Online, and University of Denver, among others. Take a Tucson vacation, No.8 Arizona MBB bounce back with win over USC after loss to ASU, Arizona WBB goes down to UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament, Training day: Arizona swim alum prepares for Paris 2024 Olympics. Disney Aspire offers convenience and flexibility, with individual coaching provided by Guild to help students every step of the way from application through graduation. Sarah is a wife, a mother of two awesome little boys, and a Disney fanatic. She is a graduate of Kenyon College, where she majored in English and Creative Writing. These seven companies have generous education benefits that cover all or most of the cost of tuition for eligible employees: Read on to find out more about the education benefits that each company offers, plus some other great perks of working for each one. Disney Aspire is designed to remove key barriers to enrollment and support working adults in a multitude of ways, including: Since Disney Aspires launch inAugust 2018, more than 12,000 students have actively enrolled in classes and more than 500 have completed programs and graduated. Disney employees must meet in-state residency requirements and can choose from 34 of the undergraduate and master's degree programs - 10 of which are fully . Guild partners with leading Fortune 1000 employers to help them provide education benefits to their frontline workforce. The vast array of possibilities available to participants is just one factor that sets Disney Aspire apart from leading corporate education programs. All the programs connect to career opportunities at the company, like business, finance, technology, media and HR, Trout says. While few employers can invest $150 million over five years as Disney plans to do, others can take inspiration from Disney's approach to add a bit . Disney Aspire is the most comprehensive education investment program of its kind, offering nearly 300 total degrees and programs at 11 educational institutions nationwide. Around the same time Target announced its new debt-free education benefits, Walmart unveiled improvements to it's education benefits. together. Employees can use Disney Aspire to get their high school diploma, complete a bachelors or masters degree, learn the English language or a new trade, or complete stackable certificates in a variety of in-demand skills. This is in addition to the more than 300 programs in the current Disney Aspire network offered by universities and education providers, includingUniversity of Arizona,University of Central Florida,Valencia College, Brandman University,University of FloridaOnline,University of Denver,WilmingtonUniversity andBellevue University. To help administer the program, Disney has partnered with Guild Education, a market leader in providing higher education opportunities designed for working adults. Starbucks provides full tuition coverage for employees pursuing a bachelors degree at Arizona State Universitys online program. When she speaks to new cast members about the potentially life-changing program, they often tell her it sounds too good to be true. Chipotle covers full tuition at many schools, including Brandman, Purdue University Online, and Paul Quinn College, which is one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the country. Allowing front-line workers like myself to grow professionally and academically was something that I could not pass up, she says. This is just another example of what makes Disney the most magical company to work for. Its one more reason offering a fully paid college education is a smart business decision. If they can tap that base of talent for salaried employees, that is a huge win.. All Rights Reserved. Since the program began in 2018, thousands of Disney cast members have enrolled in Aspire network schools that include online programs at the University of Arizonaand University of Central Florida. With Disney Aspire, we are helping employees create the futures they imagine for themselves, said Jayne Parker, senior executive vice president and chief HR officer, The Walt Disney Company. Jan 17, 2020. Stay informed with the latest from the CC community, delivered to you, for free. Holiday Programming Coming Your Way All Month Across Disneys Incredible Networks! The Disney Aspire program is helping thousands of Disney's hourly workers access a free college education and build a path to a permanent career. Fullerton. Purdue Global, part of thePurdue Universitysystem, delivers personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of working adults. No, my DD works for Disney and lives in FL but hadn't gone through the process of changing any ID when she started Aspire. Those with a bachelors degree earn an average of 65 percent more than those who only complete high school, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. MBB preview: No. The program covers books and fees as well as tuition, and doesn't have a requirement to stay employed by Disney for a certain amount of time after graduation. Let us come to you. The Disney Aspire program gave me the opportunity to continue my education and put myself in a better place in society today, Lume says. Starbucks first unveiled their revolutionary partnership with Arizona State University in June 2014 and seven years later the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP) is still going strong. Anaheim-based Global HR Operations Associate Krista Ledbetter welcomes new cast members to Disney every day as part of her roleand shes also a Disney Aspire student, working toward a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management. The Company has committed $150 million to fund Disney Aspire over the first five years of the program and will add up to $25 . Since Disney Aspire launched, the program has contributed to The Walt Disney Company's strong pipeline of internal talent. Today, Disney announced the addition of the University of Central Florida to its groundbreaking Disney Aspire education investment program, which offers 100 percent free tuition to eligible employees and Cast Members. "For more than a century, we've been preparing our students for success," said Dr. Monte Perez, interim president at Fullerton College. Cost: Disney pays 100% of tuition up front at the Disney Aspire network of schools, and also covers the cost of required books and fees. The Disney Aspire program is helping thousands of Disneys hourly workers access a free college education and build a path to a permanent career. You just have to attend a presentation at a different school if it does not come to the one you are currently enrolled at or attend a E-presentation. Cast Members learning a trade, English, or getting GEDs will be allowed to finish their program. Copyright 2021, Launchpad Digital Network, LLC. Disney Aspire, The Walt Disney Company's education investment and career development program that offers 100% tuition paid upfront for hourly employees, has welcomed two new additions to its growing network of educational providers: California State University, Fullerton and Fullerton . There are no minimum grade requirements to get the tuition assistance, and if someone fails a course they can take it again. The program has also proven to be a boon for recruiting. 8 Arizona vs. No. Disneys investment of $150 million enables its employees to gain confidence and grow their careers including potential new roles at Disney and careers outside of the company. Degree programs offered through Disney Aspire and UCF. Make the most of your Disney Aspire opportunity. SEE ALSO: How Disneyland keeps Boba Fett from bumping into Kylo Ren in Galaxys Edge and why it matters. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. They pay EVERYTHING. Through these partnerships, 400,000 working adults have begun exploring their path back to school with Guild. I hope you enjoyed this story of Disney helping cast members around the world accomplish their academic dreams. She credits the help she received from Guild, and the mentorship of a Disney leader, in helping her navigate that journey. Disney Aspire, the most comprehensive program of its kind, launched with a five-year, $150 million investment to create new opportunities for the Companys hourly employees, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and put their career dreams within reachwhether that means learning a trade, growing their language skills, earning a high school diploma or earning a college or masters degree. I have now started my Master's with the Aspire program. Many UCF students already work at Disney and so do many other students at state colleges in the region who are in the pipeline to transfer to UCF through the DirectConnect to UCF program. . Although no-one is guaranteed a job, the impact has been profound.
Gilbert Artemus (Artie) Darrell