Some of the leading organizations in the St. Louis region have been turning to the University of Missouri–St. Louis to provide educational and professional development opportunities for their employees looking to get ahead in their careers.
World Wide Technology is the latest to partner with the university. The company finalized a three-year agreement that includes a tuition-funded model under which eligible staff members will receive full-tuition assistance for up to 18 credit hours for undergraduate and 12 credit hours for graduate coursework per year at UMSL as they seek to gain the knowledge, skills and certifications they need for advancement. The model provides financial assistance and scholarships to minimize the financial burden on employees, even when they enroll as full-time students.
Employees can choose to pursue degree programs in a range of disciplines, including accounting, actuarial science, communication, computer science, cybersecurity, data science and analysis, economics, finance, financial technology, graphic design, information systems and technology, international relations, management, marketing, and supply chain. The university also has for credit certificate programs in areas such as artificial intelligence, business intelligence, corporate financial reporting, enterprise systems development, geographic information systems, mobile apps and computing, and talent management.
UMSL will provide enrollment and advising support tailored to working professionals for all participating employees, and the university also offers flexible course offerings, including day, evening and online courses that allow students to choose the options that best fit their schedules.
World Wide Technology counts more than 10,000 employees globally and provides its customers with expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, networking, cybersecurity, data analytics, automation and digital transformation.
"World Wide Technology is one of the largest and most successful companies in the St. Louis region, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis is excited to be a partner helping its employees reach their educational and professional goals," said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. "In today’s economy, professionals in every sector need to continually add new skills to advance in their careers, and we provide high-quality undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to assist World Wide Technology employees in doing just that."
Employees will also receive 20% off UMSL Advanced Workforce Center Skills Lab non-credit professional development courses and certificates.
As part of the agreement, UMSL and World Wide Technology are looking to create opportunities for UMSL students to participate in internships at the company or explore full- or part-time careers there.
UMSL has been engaging with a number of other business partners to identify and address their needs to attract, retain and nurture talented workers through its Advanced Workforce Center. It provides a customized corporate partnership model where employers invest in their employees through degree obtainment as well as through certifications and noncredit coursework.
Earlier this month, the university signed an educational partnership agreement with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department that is supporting commissioned officers as they pursue degrees or certificates in industry relevant areas.
UMSL has previously established partnerships with BJC HealthCare and Compass Health to help each address their increased needs for quality, trained social workers by supporting employees pursuing their MSW degrees.
The university is a strategic education partner with the Amazon Career Choice program, which provides employees benefits that include full college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs.
It has also worked with online learning service providers AllCampus and Bisk, which partner with higher education institutions to make educational opportunities more accessible to working adults. Employees at thousands of organizations across the country can access UMSL bachelor’s and master’s degree programs through the AllCampus workplace and Bisk Amplified™ platforms.
For more information on educational partnerships at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, please contact Jamie Liston, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at jamie.liston@umsl.edu.
