Anthem, WGU Launch Degree Assistance Program
The resulting business will be based at Anthem's Indianapolis headquarters.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based Anthem Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) has announced an initiative to allow its employees to continue their education. The company is partnering with Western Governors University to give employees throughout the country the chance to earn a "virtually free" graduate degree.
Anthem says any full-time or part-time employee that has been with the company for at least six months and works more than 20 hours per week will be eligible for the program, in which WGU will provide a 5 percent discount on tuition. The university will also offer 20 $1,000 scholarships that can be used toward a master’s degree.
Anthem says, along with its Education Assistance program which offers tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 each year, employees may only have to pay $175 in out-of-pocket costs for the first year of the program.
"Anthem is committed to offering its associates a robust rewards package that goes beyond salary and health benefits," said Jose Tomas, chief human resources officer at Anthem. "Our partnership with WGU reinforces our commitment to providing education and development support to all our associates. Anthem is investing in the partnerships and programs that help enrich the lives of its associates to build a better company that is more responsive to its customers and competitive in the health care industry."
Anthem employees will be able to choose from graduate degree programs in health professions, information technology, business and teaching.