Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has partnered with JM Family Enterprises to create a new program to provide its 4,300 full-time associates full tuition for online and on-campus certifications and both undergraduate and graduate degrees beginning the fall 2019 semester.
“At JM Family, we believe it’s important to foster an environment of continuous learning so our associates are constantly building capacity, remaining agile and well-positioned for changes in the marketplace,” said JM Family president and CEO Brent Burns, who is also a member of FAU’s Board of Trustees and an alumnus of the university. “Associates are our most important asset and our biggest competitive advantage. We want to provide them with the tools they need to excel. Their success is our success.”
JM Family is the first organization to join Florida Atlantic’s Edu-Vantage Partner Program. The program with corporate community partners and employers to offer employees with the opportunity to accomplish their educational and professional goals while simultaneously maintaining full-time careers, family responsibilities and other commitments, according to a FAU release.
“We are truly excited to launch the FAU Edu-Vantage Partner Program with JM Family Enterprises as our first partner,” said Dr. Daniel Gropper, dean of FAU’s College of Business. “JM Family is recognized as one of the best workplaces in the nation, and we are pleased that FAU can provide educational programs for their associates.”
Though JM Family has offered to reimburse college tuition to its associates for decades, students have paid upfront and were limited to an annual reimbursement of $5,000 for undergraduate courses and $7,000 for graduate degrees.
As a result of the new partnership there will be: no limit to how many courses a JM Family associate can take; no upfront payment; all tuition, books and fees covered by JM Family; and no location restrictions because courses can be taken online for associate’s degrees at all locations.
The program will be managed by FAU’s College of Business Executive Education Department, which offers concierge service and support for working professionals.
