Updated November 2021. The Company has committed$150 millionto fund Disney Aspire over the first five years of the program and will add up to$25 millionmore each year after that. Administered in partnership with Guild Education, Disney Aspire offers convenience, flexibility, and the tools they need to succeed as adult learners. Disney Aspire offers a wide variety of programs at more than 10 in-network schools, including high school diplomas, certificates, undergraduate degrees and master's degrees.Eligible hourly employees and cast members have the opportunity to pursue their education goals and put their career dreams within reach. And it all came full circle when I was lucky enough to be named a School of Communications Distinguished Alumna back in 2017. The collaboration is a natural fit between UCF and Disney since both institutions are powerful economic engines in Orlando and across Florida. He writes about Disney, Universal, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and Legoland parks in Southern California, across the United States and around the world. As a result of their feedback and suggestions, a dedicated study space is now available exclusively to Disney Aspire students. "For more than a century, we've been preparing our students for success," said Dr. Monte Perez, interim president at Fullerton College. I have now started my Master's with the Aspire program. Bonus benefits: Disney also offers free theme park admission after two weeks of employment, and special discounts on certain hotels, restaurants, and recreation locations. The program covers all costs up front, including tuition books and fees, and provides participants with individual coaching and support from application through graduation to ensure they stick with their program. together. And while there is no requirement to stay at Disney after using Disney Aspire, the program gives hourly employees a path to a more permanent career with the company. May 23, 2019. Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College bring nearly 70 new degree and certificate programs to Disney Aspire. Purdue Global, part of thePurdue Universitysystem, delivers personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of working adults. There's already a lot to love about Target, but here's one more thing to add to the list. When she speaks to new cast members about the potentially life-changing program, they often tell her it sounds too good to be true. 2. "Disney Aspire continues to lead the way as one of the most comprehensive employee education programs in the country and we are proud that SNHU's workforce-relevant degree programs will now be available to Disney employees and Cast Members," said Paul LeBlanc, university president and CEO, Southern New Hampshire University. Disney announced in August that employees have the opportunity to apply for college tuition reimbursement through a new program called Disney Aspire. Disneys commitment also includes grossing-up participating employees wages to account for taxes withheld for education benefits in excess of $5,250 annually. Employees can use Disney Aspire to get their high school diploma, complete a bachelor's or master's degree, learn the English language or a new trade, or complete stackable certificates in a . ", Fullerton College is one of the oldest community colleges in the state of California, and one of the most successful in the nation. The Disney Aspire program is helping thousands of Disney's hourly workers access a free college education and build a path to a permanent career. Fill out our form below for your FREE, no-obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner withMickeyTravels! Participants are also under no obligation to stay at Disney after theyve completed their degree or certificate. Chief Learning Officer is a multimedia publication focused on the importance, benefits and advancements of a properly trained workforce. Recognizing how many of the resorts cast members have embraced the Disney Aspire program, the leadership team at the Contemporary Resort asked their colleagues how they could help. Like many Aspirers, Yolanda Flores, an usher at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, has found invaluable resources that extend beyond her coursework as she pursues her studies online and re-learns how to be a student after a long break. You can withdraw your consent for these messages at any time. A cultural exchange and journalism collaboration among students and faculty from four public universities in Yemen and the UA. We hear stories all the time about how Aspire has been life changing, Trout says. Cast members are allowed to earn one bachelor's degree or one master's degree. Students. Disney Aspire most recently welcomed Johnson & Wales University to its growing network of education providers. The company is now offering employees the chance to get a debt-free education. It also strengthens UCFs already recognized position as one of the nations most affordable and best-value universities. That representation is building a powerful pipeline of talent, Trout says. "We can't wait to open up the door to even more of our neighbors and help them to make the most of their futures through this new collaboration with Disney.". Disney Aspire has been designed for busy adults who may be balancing home, family and work obligations while pursuing their education. Making dreams come true was just one part of Kent Stein's job at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. 4 /10. If a front-line worker learns tech skills, for example, or gets a degree in HR or business, it can open doors to salaried roles they may not otherwise have qualified for. ! UCF will be the first school within the Disney Aspire network to offer a bachelor's degree in entertainment management, . About Disney AspireDisney Aspire is the most comprehensive education investment program of its kind, offering more than 300 degrees and programs at 13 educational institutions nationwide in concert with Guild Education. A catalog of hand-selected, high-outcome programs, continually updated to evolve with the career landscape. And at Disneys Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, Disney Aspire participants have a new way to connect and encourage each other, as well as a quiet space where they can go to learn and complete their schoolwork. For more information on our data collection and use practices, and managing your preferences, please read our privacy policy. By providing my email address I'd like to receive updates, special offers, and other information via electronic messages and postal mail from Disney Destinations, LLC and other members of The Walt Disney Family of Companies. Walmart also expanded to include over 60 partner schools, including University of Denver, University of Arizona, Southern New Hampshire, and Purdue University Global. This immersive experience typically a semester in length provides on-the-job training, housing, and college credits where eligible. Disney allows cast members the choice of trade schools, high school continuation, bachelor's and master's programs. Schools Near Aspire Mesa. The Daily Wildcat, straight to your inbox. In honor of October being Hispanic / Latinx Heritage month, below is a list of scholarships currently accepting applications that. By Walt Disney World and UCF Communications . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Disneyland adds Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College to free Aspire education program, 11 new Disney Food & Wine Festival foods ranked from best to worst See the list, UFO over Disneyland? The company committed to investing $1 billion over the next five years in education and career training programs for employees. Allowing front-line workers like myself to grow professionally and academically was something that I could not pass up, she says. Sign up for an account or login to start your college list. According to a blog post, the company will spend $50 million this year and $25 million next year on the Aspire program. CONTACTS:Michelle BergmanThe Walt Disney Company[emailprotected], Gregory Ten EyckPurdue University Global[emailprotected], Lauren KeaneSouthern New Hampshire University[emailprotected], Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 Mystery solved of hovering black rings in viral videos, Everything you can eat and drink at Disneys Food & Wine Festival See the list, Disneyland reaches out to next generation of forever fans with fresh new entertainment, Disneyland brings Marvel-themed Rogers: The Musical to Hyperion Theater this summer, 5 things I cant wait to eat in Disneylands new Toontown and 4 Ill definitely skip, Disneyland quietly removes controversial lyric from new parade soundtrack, Real snow falls at Disneyland not the fake soapy stuff. Distance. It required a lot of time, dedication and support, she says. Southern New Hampshire Universitywas named one of the nations Best Regional Universities byUS News & World Report, ranking as the Most Innovative School in the northern region. #2. The Arizona Daily Wildcat is the award-winning, student-managed and -produced news outlet serving The University of Arizona and greater Tucson since 1899. Employees can select from more than 130 college degree and education programs offered through several institutions, including Purdue UniversityGlobal, North Carolina A&T State University,University of Arizona,University of Central Florida,Valencia College, UMass Globaland others. Coaches can help participants choose a degree program and set up a study plan that fits their schedule. Starbucks associates can choose from the 100+ online bachelor's degree that ASU offers, and SCAP is available for both full-time and benefits-eligible part-time employees. The Disney College Program is a national internship program for U.S. residents, and includes locations at both the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California. And Daniela Del Carpio used the program to earn a B.S. Tuition costs are paid up front at a network of schools and programs, ranging from learning a new trade to high school completion and college and post-graduate degrees. Guild partners with leading Fortune 1000 employers to help them provide education benefits to their frontline workforce. Cast members must work for the company for three months, choose a program that you like, submit your application and wait for the school to get back to you. college in the state of California, and one of the most successful in the The program has also proven to be a boon for recruiting. He recalls one employee who dropped out of school in ninth grade and used Aspire to get her high school diploma and is now pursuing a bachelors degree. Many large companies help employees pay for school, but some offer particularly generous education benefits for employees who want to save money on college and earn a degree while working. I am sure many of you are taking online classes with a Disney cast member and did not even know it. Disney Aspire is the most comprehensive education investment program of its kind, offering nearly 300 total degrees and programs at 11 educational institutions nationwide. . Jon Favreau Answers The Question: Who Would Win Anakin or Luke? She is a graduate of Kenyon College, where she majored in English and Creative Writing. All full and part-time employees are eligible for this debt-free degree program starting on their very first day on the job. Bonus Benefit: Walmart's Centers for Excellence program offers employees facing big health challenges access to some of the world's best medical facilities and care.