Pizza and college students just go together
Let’s face it – who can not claim that Pizza Hut helped them get through college? Pizza is probably the main food group for most college students, fueling those late night study sessions and end of the semester parties. Pizza Hut helped me get through college financially by opening the first stand-alone delivery only location as a test location in College Station, Texas.
I had been working in a locally owned sandwich shop, and the business owner — who also had a Pizza Hut franchise location in town — jumped on the chance for the Pizza Hut delivery franchise. The hours and pay for pizza kitchen staff was quite good for me as a nineteen year old journalism student at Texas A & M University, but the experience of working for a spirited local entrepreneur was priceless.
The Life Unboxed EDU Program
Pizza Hut was founded with that same entrepreneurial spirit, when two Wichita State University students, brothers Dan and Frank Carney, borrowed $600 from their mother to start their first pizzeria.
Now Pizza Hut is doing even more for college students, according to this PR Newswire announcement about their “Life Unboxed EDU” Program to provide continuing education opportunities to its employees and their immediate family.
The world’s largest pizza company is partnering with private, non-profit Excelsior College to customize a program that allows their staff to receive credit for their on the job management level training. Excelsior College offers accredited distance learning with all levels of degrees as well as courses towards various certifications and professional development.
Open to any Pizza Hut employee and their families
The appeal of this educational program is that it embraces a much needed work and life balance, by taking into consideration the need for adult students to balance education with their work and families. After a rigorous assessment and evaluation of Pizza Hut’s management-level training courses, Excelsior College identified four business degree programs for which these credits would be applicable.
What’s even more exciting is that the program is open to any Pizza Hut employee, regardless of whether salaried or hourly, and for any location whether equity or franchise – as well as their immediate family. Students will receive 45% off undergraduate and 15% off graduate program tuition at Excelsior College. For salaried, full-time corporate employees, Pizza Hut will also cover as much as $5250 annually for tuition, books and fees.
Balancing academia with family life
In the news release Excelsior College John Ebersole stated:
“Excelsior has more than 40 years of experience serving working adults not dissimilar to those Pizza Hut employees; individuals who are trying to balance their educational pursuits with full-time careers and social and family responsibilities. We can help them navigate these obstacles and unlock their potential.”
An educated, diverse workforce
This program is another in Pizza Hut’s endeavors towards creating an educated and empowered workforce, as the company joined a coalition of private sector companies in the 100,000 Opportunities Imitative earlier this year. This initiative provides internships and apprenticeships as well as on the job training for youth, while including opportunities for older employees to create a diverse workforce.
Here’s hoping for success for both programs to educate and empower hard-working and dedicated workforce of the present and future.
