Contact: Director of Publications and Media Relations
(651) 296-0541 or Fax (651) 0872
Uri Camarena, public relations manager
UPS, Minnesota District (612)379-6668
August 16, 1999 - UPS-MnSCU Partnership Announced
United Parcel Service, Minnesota District, and Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities today unveiled a plan to help up to 1,200 part-time workers
in Minneapolis and Eagan obtain a college education paid for by their
employer.
UPS plans to invest $27 million over five years in tuition reimbursement
as a way to attract new workers and assist part-time workers.
"Companies are competing for reliable, part-time workers in this
tight labor market, and we are hoping this will be an incentive for our
employees to stay with the company and get their degrees," said UPS
District Manager Jim Meyer.
United Parcel Service is offering part-time workers college tuition reimbursements
of up to $3,000 per year for five years or a maximum of $15,000. To be
eligible, students must work a regular part-time shift at UPS's two metro
locations: Eagan, at Highway 149 and Highway 55, and northeast Minneapolis,
3312 N.E. Broadway St..
As an additional benefit, students who work part-time at UPS are eligible
for low-interest student loans that will be forgiven if they work more
than a year at UPS. For example, if a student borrows $2,000, UPS will
turn half of the loan into a grant if the student works at UPS for a year.
After four years of working for UPS and borrowing $2,000 a year, UPS will
turn all of the $8,000 loan into a grant.
"Most of our students work part-time and the current financial aid
system makes it difficult for them to receive much help," said Chancellor
Morris J. Anderson of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. "This
innovative partnership is an example of a major employer making a major
investment in higher education for its employees."
The program will be available for fall semester, which begins as early
as Aug. 23 at MnSCU institutions.
Students participating in the tuition reimbursement plan would work for
the company as package handlers at the UPS hub in Eagan, Highways 149
and 55, or Northeast Minneapolis, 3312 N.E. Broadway St. Students would
work 31/2-to five-hour night or twilight shifts and receive a full benefit
package.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is made up of 36
state universities, community and technical colleges and a campus in Japan.
The system serves approximately 230,000 students a year with a fall 1998
enrollment of about 140,000.
People interested in participating in the UPS tuition reimbursement program
may call (651) 681-2800 or look at the website www.upsjobs.com. For more
information about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities call 1-888-MnSCU-4-U
or the admissions office of the college you are interested in attending.
-
