{"id":3984,"date":"2022-05-25T14:01:58","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T14:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=3984"},"modified":"2025-03-27T17:25:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T21:25:07","slug":"attracting-and-retaining-talented-employees-with-education-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2022\/05\/25\/attracting-and-retaining-talented-employees-with-education-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees \u2014 with Education Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column3984_1c41e6-ca dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3984_741981-dc\"]{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#808080;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3984_741981-dc\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3984_741981-dc\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading3984_741981-dc wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading3984_741981-dc\">How tuition assistance builds a cutting-edge workforce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a competitive job market, where qualified employees are a company\u2019s most valuable asset and its most sought-after resource, employers are discovering the multifaceted return on investment that education benefits offer. Not only do employer-sponsored bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees sharpen workers\u2019 skills; they also help a company attract \u2014 and keep \u2014 top talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilmington University is a leader in higher education for working adults. Since 1968, it has provided affordable, accessible pathways to in-demand careers and professional advancement. About 87% of the University\u2019s students work full- or part-time, and 76% are over 25. The university also partners with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/guildeducation\/\">Guild Education<\/a>, which was named to TIME\u2019s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeffrey Martino, director of WilmU\u2019s University Partnership Center, says that the university\u2019s accredited, career-focused academic programs are taught by industry-experienced professionals, which set the institution apart as an education destination. \u201cIn addition,\u201d he says, \u201cwe offer a high-value education at a sensible price.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WilmU, in fact, is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in the Mid-Atlantic region. With 15 locations across Delaware and South Jersey and over 150 degree and certificate programs available entirely online, WilmU educates over 20,000 students a year worldwide, including through partnerships with diverse companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven the best companies are struggling to acquire and retain high-quality employees,\u201d says Dr. Eileen Donnelly, WilmU\u2019s vice president of Enrollment Management. \u201cAt the same time, mid-career employees are realizing the need to retrain and learn new skills. We believe that organizations that invest in tuition assistance for their workforce are really making themselves a more attractive opportunity and a smarter company. We\u2019d like to be a part of that value proposition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re eager to work with companies in diverse industries,\u201d adds Martino. \u201cThrough our combined efforts, we can make career-building education a debt-free opportunity for many people. It\u2019s an amazing benefit for employees \u2014 the people who make your company work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Discover Financial Services in New Castle, for instance, the College Commitment program allows eligible employees to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree as a fully-funded benefit. For Natalie DiSabatino, a community affairs specialist at Discover, the program assisted her in making her longtime educational goal a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI always knew I wanted to earn my master\u2019s, and Discover\u2019s partnership with Wilmington University made it possible,\u201d says DiSabatino, who earned a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Marketing in October 2021. \u201cI liked having the in-person educational experience with expert instructors, but I also enjoyed the convenience of completing coursework online, over the weekends or at night when I had the availability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI even inspired my boss to go back and get her MBA.,\u201d DiSabatino adds. \u201cShe\u2019s a proud member of the WilmU Wildcat community, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur long-standing partnership with Wilmington University has empowered many of our staff to pursue their dreams of higher education and set a powerful foundation for their future success,\u201d says Lisa Hower, regional operations director at Discover. \u201cWe are proud of how our educational benefit can create a lasting impact and are grateful to have helped so many employees obtain their degrees and avoid the debt that often comes with a college education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe are proud of how our educational benefit can create a lasting impact and are grateful to have helped so many employees obtain their degrees and avoid the debt that often comes with a college education.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Lisa Hower,\u00a0<em>Discover<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are incredibly proud to work alongside Wilmington University and Discover in service of America\u2019s working adult learners,\u201d&nbsp;says&nbsp;Natalie&nbsp;McCullough, president and chief commercial officer at Guild Education.&nbsp;\u201cDiscover\u2019s College Commitment makes it easier than ever for employees to continue their educational journeys at quality institutions like Wilmington University. WilmU has been supporting our nation\u2019s working adults for over 50 years and we\u2019re honored to have them as part of Guild\u2019s learning marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies can partner with WilmU to allow employees to earn or complete undergraduate or graduate degrees or certificate programs or develop customized academic courses designed to meet their specific training needs. In addition, the University\u2019s budget-friendly tuition offers in-state-resident rates for its award-winning online learning options, no matter where students live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, WilmU\u2019s exclusive Dual-Credit Advantage enables students in more than 130 degree and certificate programs to apply the credits they earn from selected courses toward more than one academic credential, saving them tuition dollars and time. These Dual-Credits can help bachelor\u2019s degree students earn a specialized certificate in a related field simultaneously for no extra cost. For instance, they can accelerate their master\u2019s degree studies by taking advanced-level courses as required electives before they\u2019ve graduated. They can also build a five-course certificate program into the foundation of an undergraduate or graduate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees can take advantage of application assistance, guaranteed admission with no standardized test score requirements, and a complimentary transfer credit evaluation to maximize their previous educational and work training experiences. Classes begin every eight weeks, and online and in-person student support services and personalized guidance are always available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about partnerships with Wilmington University, contact its University Partnership Center at&nbsp;<strong>(302) 327-4596<\/strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<strong>upc@wilmu.edu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How tuition assistance builds a cutting-edge workforce In a competitive job market, where qualified employees are a company\u2019s most valuable asset and its most sought-after&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3988,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[438],"tags":[607],"class_list":["post-3984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-partners","tag-university-partnership-center"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":438,"label":"PARTNERS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":607,"label":"University Partnership Center"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/DualCreditAdvantage-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":438,"name":"PARTNERS","slug":"partners","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":995,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":32,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":438,"category_count":32,"category_description":"","cat_name":"PARTNERS","category_nicename":"partners","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":607,"name":"University Partnership Center","slug":"university-partnership-center","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1164,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3984"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17576,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions\/17576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}