Walmart provides new in-demand technology
degrees for associates and gives high school students an on-ramp to
the workforce and path to college through retailer’s debt-free
degree benefit
Walmart is committed to winning the future of retail and knows
investing in its people is essential to serving customers today and
in the future. To help prepare its workforce for tomorrow, the
retailer is expanding its Live Better U education benefit to
include new technology degrees and certificates for $1 a day and
offering high school students a bridge into the workforce,
including access to all its learning programs.
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These enhancements come a year after Walmart announced the
education benefit, which is designed to help remove barriers — like
cost, time and earning a relevant degree in a changing economy —
that too often keep adult learners from furthering their
educations.
High school students face challenges when it comes to work and
education. The cost of college remains a significant barrier for
many high school students, which often leads to costly student
loans. The Center for Microeconomic Data recently reported that
student loan debt is now nearly $1.5 trillion. At the same time,
fewer and fewer teens are entering the workforce, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. It estimates that by 2024 only 26
percent of teens will have a job. It’s been shown that having a job
helps teens build confidence, work ethic, independence, financial
knowledge, and perhaps most importantly, creates work experience
that helps students as they transition into adulthood and a
career.
“Walmart values learning in all forms, and we are committed to
creating a workforce of lifelong learners and instilling in them
excitement for retail and a passion for serving customers,” said
Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. “Access to higher
education is one way to grow your career. So, in addition to
providing people with an entry to the workforce and access to our
on-the-job training I’m proud Walmart also offers our associates
programs like Live Better U to help them achieve their educational
goals.”
High School Expansion
Walmart’s program provides students an end-to-end workforce
solution, from access to jobs, to building foundational soft skills
and more advanced skills through work-based training, and an
opportunity to earn a debt-free college degree. Along with other
eligible Walmart associates, high school students will now have
access to:
- Jobs with scheduling options for
flexibility or core hours (work the same days and shifts for up to
13 weeks),
- Free ACT and SAT prep,
- Up to seven hours of free college credit through Live Better U’s
College Start program, and
- A debt-free college degree through Live
Better U (upon high school completion) in the in-demand fields of
technology, business or supply chain management at six nonprofit
universities.
Technology Degrees and Certificates
Walmart is expanding its offering of debt-free degrees that
associates can earn through Live Better U. The additional 14
technology degrees and certificates — like cyber security, computer
science, computer and network security and computing technology —
are in addition to the business and supply chain degrees currently
offered for $1 a day.
The technology additions to Live Better U highlight the
importance of Walmart’s enterprise-wide digital transformation
while also providing associates opportunities for economic
mobility. Live Better U’s technology programs — in addition to the
retail management and business management degrees — create career
pathways both within the retailer and externally. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer fields grew by
21 percent from 2009 to 2015 — more than four times the rate of
roles outside of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and
math) sector.
In the coming months, the company plans to add even more degrees
and certificates in additional fields that will support both the
growing Walmart business and demand in the overall U.S.
workforce.
Completion Bonus
Walmart is creating the Live Better U Scholar Awards, a
graduation bonus program for Walmart U.S. store associates who have
not previously completed college credits. The award underscores
Live Better U’s focus on completion, celebrates the associate’s
achievements, and will offset — and in many cases pay back — the
associate’s $1 a day contribution to the program. Up to 5,000
associates each year will be eligible for the awards valued at
$1,500 each.
About Live Better U
Live Better U meets associates where they are on their
educational journey by creating access, removing barriers and
empowering associates to go as far in their education — and careers
— as their hard work and talents will take them. The program
includes the debt-free $1 a day degree program, free high school
completion for associates and eligible family members, discounts on
higher education programs like master’s degrees, free foreign
language learning and much more — all in partnership with Guild
Education. Additionally, associates can get college credit for
training they receive on the job through our Academies. Hundreds of
thousands of associates have already undergone skills training
equivalent to more than $300 million in college credits toward the
program.
Associates can now earn degrees and certificates at six
nonprofit universities, which were selected for their success with
adult learners. Southern New Hampshire University, Purdue
University Global and Wilmington University are new to Live Better
U and join University of Florida, Brandman University and Bellevue
University.
Less than a year after launch, more than 7,500 Walmart
associates from all 50 states have been accepted into at least one
of the programs — ahead of the retailer’s projections.
“Since launching with Guild a year ago, thousands of Walmart
associates have now headed back to school debt-free, collectively
saving tens of millions of dollars in student debt,” said Rachel
Carlson, CEO of Guild Education. "As the largest employer in the
nation, Walmart’s education program is creating unparalleled access
for millions of Americans to gain a meaningful education and
economic mobility.”
What Others are Saying about Live Better U
Paul LeBlanc, president and CEO of Southern New Hampshire
University“Walmart is taking the lead on workforce development,
connecting their employees with the opportunity to earn a degree
that will help them get ahead in their life and career without
taking on debt. SNHU’s collaboration with Walmart will expand
access to education for thousands of associates and is a model for
aligning employer demand with the kind of workforce-applicable
higher education we have pioneered at SNHU.”
Dr. Mary Hawkins, President of Bellevue University“Live
Better U is more than an education assistance program; it’s a
strategy that creates opportunities to learn and apply learning at
work. We’ve had incredibly active student participation by Walmart
associates in our business cohort degree programs, and we've seen
retention rates that are above our university average. It's been a
remarkable first year of the program, and we are excited to embark
on year 2 as we expand our degree offerings to Walmart
associates."
Rachel Carlson, CEO of Guild Education“Walmart's
expansion of the Live Better U program — adding technology degrees
and certificates like computer science and cybersecurity — is
another step in the company’s significant commitment to train and
educate workers for jobs of the future.”
John Gomperts, president and CEO of America’s Promise
Alliance“Employers need people who have the education and
skills to thrive in a fast-changing workplace. That’s why Walmart’s
investment in developing the education and workplace skills of its
employees is so significant. Walmart is showing how employers can
help young people be ready, connected, and supported to succeed in
the workplace.”
Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief strategy
officer at Lumina Foundation“Lumina is proud to partner with
Walmart to measure the effects of the Live Better U program on its
employees and its bottom line. Many companies support employees
with tuition benefits, but few have built programs like Walmart’s,
which is built to encourage workers to finish their educations. The
introduction of the graduation bonus is one more way Walmart is
creating pathways for its associates.”
Eric Seleznow, senior adviser for JFF“There is real power
in work-based learning. When young people work, they gain critical
employment skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and
communications. These skills serve them well immediately and in
their future. This enhanced program is the latest example of how
employers can step up to support continued education and learning
for America’s young people and prepare them for the careers of
today and tomorrow.”
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save
money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores,
online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over 275
million customers and members visit our more than 11,300 stores
under 58 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites. With
fiscal year 2019 revenue of $514.4 billion, Walmart employs over
2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader
in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment
opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by
visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at
http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/walmart.
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Media Relations Contact:Michelle
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