The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) announced today an Education Concierge Partnership, which will provide VSUW employees with access to a dedicated advising team that will assist them through their entire educational journey with any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.
Statistics show that 93 percent of employees say using their employer’s tuition assistance program helped them develop the skills they needed to grow within their company, yet fewer than 10 percent of employees utilize tuition assistance from their employer when it is offered. Many factors impact this underutilization, but oftentimes it is lack of understanding of funding opportunities through employers, financial aid, and scholarships.
The Education Concierge Service was created to remove these barriers for working professionals and provide direct support through a dedicated advising team. This team, which is part of the Enrollment Management division within Student Affairs, is available to assist with admissions, tuition benefit and financial aid navigation, advising, and success coaching for students attending any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.
As part of the Achieve60AZ initiative, the state of Arizona has set a lofty goal: by 2030, 60 percent of adults in the state, ages 25 to 64, will hold a postsecondary credential or degree. In order to help reach this goal, MCCCD is developing strategic partnerships with local employers like VSUW who are dedicated to making education accessible to their employees through tuition benefits.
“The Maricopa Community Colleges and Valley of the Sun United Way have a long history of working together to serve our community,” said MCCCD Interim Chancellor, Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. “We are proud to further this partnership in support of VSUW employees, empowering them with accessible education, so they can develop within their careers and have a greater impact in the important work that they do.”
The Education Concierge Service makes it simpler for VSUW employees to earn an associate’s degree, certificate, and/or university transfer in order to grow within their organization.
“We are committed to helping our colleagues grow and achieve their full potential through higher education and are proud to partner with the Maricopa Community Colleges in the Education Concierge Partnership,” said Nicole Lomibao, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development at Valley of the Sun United Way. “These resources will make it easier than ever for our team members to reach their educational goals.”
This partnership was facilitated by Maricopa Corporate College, a division of the Workforce and Economic Development Office at the Maricopa Community Colleges. Employers interested in similar partnerships can visit info.maricopacorporate.com/concierge.