Amazon adds academic and career coaching to employee benefits
August 02 2022 - 9:15AM
Business Wire
New partnerships with Beyond 12 and Kaplan will provide
employees career coaching, college advising, and specialized career
services.
Amazon is partnering with education organizations Beyond 12 and
Kaplan to bring even more features to the Career Choice program—one
of Amazon’s nine skills training programs. Career Choice already
offers pre-paid college tuition to its more than 750,000 hourly
employees. With these new partnerships, employees will have access
to career coaching, college advising, and specialized career
services free of cost. Through the expanded benefits program,
employees will receive virtual one-on-one coaching to help them
identify the academic programs that best fit their skills and
long-term goals, as well as continuous support throughout their
higher education experience.
Studies consistently show that expanding access to higher
education is a proven way to create social and economic mobility
for Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals
with some college but no degree earn 18% more than their peers with
just a high school diploma, while those with a bachelor’s degree
earn 62% more.
However, numerous studies show that access to higher education
is only the start, and that all too often students with the best
intentions don’t finish their programs. Harvard University studies
found that fewer than 40% of community college students earn a
certificate or degree within six years of enrollment, and
completion rates are even lower for minorities, older students, and
part-time students. In fact, the Pell Institute found that only 9%
of students with lower incomes earn a bachelor’s degree by their
mid 20s, compared with 77% of their higher-earning peers.
That’s why Amazon is investing in programs to help employees get
the guidance and coaching they need to be successful students free
of cost. While financial constraints are undoubtedly a barrier for
students, high-quality academic advising and career coaching
improves academic outcomes—especially for lower-income or
first-generation postsecondary students.
“While Career Choice has always been complemented by advisement
services, feedback from participants has shown that more
comprehensive and ongoing coaching would help employees choose
programs better aligned to their career goals. We want Amazon team
members to successfully navigate the challenges of going to school
while working and ultimately use their new skills to find
incredible opportunities,” said Tammy Thieman, Global Director for
Career Choice at Amazon. “These partnerships with Beyond 12 and
Kaplan are a game-changing enhancement to our program and the
careers of Amazon’s employees.”
With these new partnerships, Amazon is envisioning an expansion
of the Career Choice program—which has more than 80,000 total
participants—that will encourage other employees to take the next
step in skills training. Career Choice is designed to put employees
on a path toward well-paying, in-demand professions with a coaching
framework that empowers them along the way.
“Participating in Amazon’s Career Choice Coaching program has
been a valuable experience,” said Cicero Vieira, an Amazon
fulfillment center employee in Baltimore. “To know I have a
personal coach I can rely on, build a rapport with, and who is
committed to helping me advance my career goals has been
reassuring.”
Beyond 12 is a national technology-based nonprofit whose mission
is to improve the outcomes of students from under-resourced
communities. The organization supplements live virtual coaching
with a mobile app that guides students through activities,
deadlines, and behaviors that lead to success throughout their
education.
“Eliminating the barrier of tuition is a tremendous benefit for
Amazon employees, but postsecondary education completion gaps can’t
be ignored,” said Alexandra Bernadotte, founder and CEO of Beyond
12. “Our coaching program helps identify and address the systemic
and structural barriers students face before those challenges lead
them to drop out. We’re pleased to partner with Amazon to go beyond
getting students ‘into’ college and focus on getting students
‘through’ college.”
Kaplan helps prepare students for higher education by offering
test prep, including for license and certification exams, while
also offering degree programs, English learning, and pathway
programs. Kaplan’s program with Amazon will connect employees to
career services, such as networking, resume development, job
interview preparation, and online brand building services, to
enhance job placement.
“Kaplan is committed to helping people succeed, and this
exciting new partnership with Amazon builds on our proud legacy of
changing lives and building stronger futures. We’re thrilled to be
empowering so many thousands of hardworking employees at Amazon and
look forward to being at their side until they’ve reached their
educational and professional objectives,” said Greg Marino, CEO of
Kaplan’s North America division.
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