Enrollment in its education benefits program has more than doubled since Meijer strengthened them last year with a free tuition component, a news release says.
All Meijer emploees are now are eligible for the retailer’s education benefits – free tuition, tuition/certificate reimbursement and scholarships – on their date of hire, which is a benefit that separates Meijer from many other employers, the release added.
“Our team members are core to our success, and by investing in them with these leading education benefits, we’re providing a path to help them achieve their educational goals,” said Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes. “We’re pleased to see so many team members taking advantage of these benefits not only because it enriches them but also because of the positive ripple effect it has on our communities.”
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 500 supercenters, neighborhood markets and express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
The free tuition provides free undergraduate education for all team members, including a free English language learners program, or associate or bachelor’s degree, offered through five online universities. Participating schools include Colorado State University Global, University of Maryland Global Campus, Walden University, Western Governor’s University and Purdue University Global.
Any team member may choose to enroll in the free education program, which includes direct billing to Meijer, so team members don’t need to pay upfront and submit for tuition reimbursement later. In addition to retail careers, there are more than 40 eligible fields of study for Meijer team members to pursue, such as marketing, computer science and criminal justice.
If team members prefer to go to a higher education institution that is not part of the free tuition program, they can still be reimbursed for part of their tuition. Meijer increased tuition reimbursement for all accredited institutions last year to $5,250 a year for all team members. The increased amount is applicable to all schools under the retailer’s current policy for tuition and certificate reimbursement.
The high cost of college made it feel out of reach to Thomas Kubasiak until he learned about the tuition reimbursement program at Meijer. The General Merchandise Inventory Coordinator at the Battle Creek, Mich. Meijer dove right into school at Kellogg Community College and expects to earn his associate degree in accounting this December. He also completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Purdue University Global last year.
“The tuition reimbursement program made it possible for me to achieve some of the career goals I had made for myself years ago. Personally, I would not have gone back to school without it,” Kubasiak said. “I would encourage my fellow team members to consider the educational assistance opportunities (at Meijer), especially if costs have stopped them from pursuing future education. I am very grateful for this program and the opportunities it has provided for me.”
