Arizona State, Starbucks may surpass goals of helping degree-seeking employees

PHOENIX — Arizona State University’s partnership with Starbucks for its tuition program is proving to be beneficial in attracting hard-working employees wanting to continue their education.

Vice President Corey duBrowa said the Seattle-based company may surpass their goal of helping 25,000 people earn degrees through ASU by 2025, according to Cronkite News.

More than 1,000 students who enrolled in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan three years ago are expected to graduate by the end of 2017.

“We’re looking at a future in which we need to create more jobs and more opportunities for more people, and we’re access points,” duBrowa said in an interview with Cronkite News.

In 2014, ASU and Starbucks created the plan for all U.S. Starbucks employees to receive their bachelor’s through ASU’s online degree program.

However, the program hit a snag when some employees did not meet ASU’s acceptance requirements. This led to an expansion of Starbucks’ plan, the Pathway to Admission, which helps ineligible applicants become eligible.

Starbucks and ASU Expand College Achievement Plan, annoucing, Pathway to Admission! https://t.co/89kRCZbQpk pic.twitter.com/GwMIp55SQh

— Starbucks Jobs (@StarbucksJobs) March 22, 2017

Employees working on the Pathway to Admission become eligible by completing courses in ASU’s online Global Freshman Academy.

Those course credits can be transferred over to ASU if passed, and the employees can start the College Achievement Plan.