Discover Taps Pioneering Nonprofit to Create Jobs for Utah College Students

University of Utah students can now earn hourly wages and up to $5,250 annually in tax-free tuition benefits, through an innovative partnership with Education at Work

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Education at Work

Jan 31, 2019, 10:31 ET

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Discover, in collaboration with national nonprofit Education at Work (EAW), announced the launch of an innovative partnership that will create more than 200 new jobs for current University of Utah students. Participating students gain valuable, on-the-job experience and mentorship working in support of Discover, while earning hourly wages plus up to $5,250 in tax-free tuition support. Through the partnership, Education at Work expects to annually provide more than $2.5 million in combined wages and tuition benefits at their University of Utah center.

"Much more than a typical on-campus job, this experience is enabling me to connect what I'm learning in school to the real world of work," said Diane Nguyen, a first-generation college student majoring in business administration at the university. "It's about pairing practical insights and experiences from my supervisors at EAW, with the skills and knowledge that I'm developing in the classroom."

Research from Strada Education Network and Gallup found that, while 83 percent of college students rate work-based sources of advice as most helpful, just 20 percent say they received advice from work-based sources. At the same time, data suggests that students who have industry-relevant work experience while in college are hired faster, into higher-paying jobs.

"The alliance between Discover and Education at Work is beneficial on many levels," said Steve Butler, Vice President, Cardmember Assistance at Discover. "It not only serves as a platform for students to gain valuable work and mentorship experience and graduate with less student debt, but also meets Discover's business needs and supports one of our key values, which is financial education."

In the year ahead, EAW expects to hire an additional 100 students for the Discover program, building on the over $22 million in wages and 5.3 million in tuition assistance EAW has already awarded to over 3,800 students nationwide since its 2012 founding.

Hiring for the Discover positions will continue through the Spring 2019 semester. As of today, the 75 students already working on behalf of the Discover program have earned over $107,000 dollars in tuition assistance.

About Education at Work

Education at Work (EAW), a member of the Strada Education Network, is a non-profit organization committed to helping college students minimize student loan debt while developing career-readiness skills. EAW operates by partnering with universities to employ students in part time, resume-worthy jobs, supporting forward-thinking companies in customer care centers built on or near college campuses. To learn more about Education at Work, visit educationatwork.org.

SOURCE Education at Work