A Connecticut company is turning to an increasingly popular initiative as a way to retain and upskill their employee base: tuition-free degree and certificate programs.
Stamford-based telecommunications company Charter Communications announced this week that it will now cover 100% of tuition costs for full-time employees to pursue select degrees and certificates through the company’s new Charter Education Benefit. According to the company, the program will provide Charter’s more than 101,000 employees with what they need to start, continue or complete their education.
The Charter Education Benefit provides employees with tuition-free access to more than 300 online programs and degrees from more than 30 universities and learning providers including eCornell, University of Denver, Ohio University and Spelman College, to name a few. The program will also cover qualified program-related expenses such as books, supplies and enrollment fees.
Charter Communications said it’s encouraging employees to pursue “high-growth” areas within the company for educational programs like operations management, marketing, project management and technology.
Charter officials said the new program is powered by Guild, a career opportunity company that helps employers offer their staff tuition-free education, career development and coaching.
This isn’t the company’s first foray into helping employees pursue higher education. Charter also offers $10,000 per year for employees working on select graduate degrees and certain undergraduate degrees outside of the current catalog of programs.
