Amazon Career Choice Partner Program at MSU Denver

Program Status: Active partnership launched March 2022 (article dated March 2, 2022)

Award Purpose: To provide quality tuition assistance for Amazon workers pursuing further education while removing financial constraints of going back to school

Program Details:

• Enables Amazon employees to earn credits toward certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree
• Focus on helping workers gain valuable qualifications and new skills
• Part of Amazon's broader Career Choice initiative
• Over 50,000 Amazon employees have participated in Career Choice program nationally over past decade

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be an Amazon employee
• Eligible credentials:
  • Certificate programs
  • Associate degree programs
  • Bachelor's degree programs
• No restrictions on field of study mentioned

Geographic Scope: Available to Amazon employees nationally, with partnership at MSU Denver serving Colorado region

Key Features:

• Tuition assistance provided (specific amounts not detailed in source)
• Support for in-demand skill development
• Flexibility for hourly and front-line workers
• Credits apply to any eligible credential at participating institutions
• National program has expanded to "hundreds of best-in-class offerings"

Program Goals:

• Provide employee empowerment through education access
• Support career growth whether with Amazon or elsewhere
• Retain talent through education investment (research shows educated employees more likely to stay)
• Remove financial barriers to education for underrepresented groups in higher education

Employee Impact Research:

• Chipotle (similar program): Employees with tuition benefits are 3.5x more likely to stay than other employees
• Chipotle data: Tuition-supported employees 7x more likely to move into management

Program Leadership:

• Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead, Amazon Career Choice

Context: Part of broader employer trend of investing in employee education:

• Pre-pandemic: 8% of employers offered student-loan or tuition assistance
• 2021: 17% of employers offered such benefits
• 2022 projections: 31% of employers planned to offer similar programs
• Major corporate participants: Target, Walmart, UPS, FedEx, Starbucks, Amazon

Application Process

Note: Specific detailed application procedures not provided in source material. General process inferred:

1. Employee Eligibility Verification:
   • Verify Amazon employment status
   • Confirm current employment and eligibility status
2. Program Enrollment:
   • Register with Amazon Career Choice program
   • Enroll through Amazon's Career Choice portal
3. MSU Denver Registration:
   • Select MSU Denver as education partner institution
   • Enroll in desired certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree program at MSU Denver
   • Register for courses
4. Tuition Assistance Application:
   • Submit tuition assistance request through Career Choice program
   • Provide course registration documentation
   • Specify credential being pursued (certificate/associate/bachelor's)
5. Award Processing:
   • Career Choice program processes tuition assistance
   • Funds applied toward employee's costs
   • Balance of costs employer or employee responsibility (details not specified)
6. Ongoing Requirements:
   • Maintain academic progress
   • Continue Amazon employment (specific requirements not detailed)
   • Complete coursework as planned

Contact for More Information:

• Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead, Amazon Career Choice Program
• MSU Denver Admissions or Financial Aid Office