Amazon has selected the University of South Dakota as its first “career choice” partner in the state.
This makes hourly Amazon employees eligible for tuition assistance. According to USD vice president of enrollment Scott Pohlson, it gives its employees more opportunities to begin their higher education.
“Employees at Amazon, after I believe it is 90 days, have the opportunity to have their tuition paid for and to have certificate credits paid for as well," Pohlson said. "So, it’s a really unique opportunity, and again as a liberal arts institution we have a wide variety of opportunities for employees."
Pohlson said many students will be connected to the new Amazon facility in Sioux Falls.
“We also have the near proximity with Amazon’s fulfillment center at USD Sioux Falls," Pohlson said. "It gives another great opportunity for us to partner with them just because of how close we are when we are considering more of a nontraditional campus base and student up in Sioux Falls.”
But at the end of the day, Pohlson said it’s about advancement.
“It doesn’t have to be in something related to Amazon’s benefit," Pohlson said. "In other words, Amazon might only want you to do computer science or programming or supply chain management. You can literally, if you’re an employee at Amazon, you can go into our nursing program if you wanted to.”
To get involved with the program visit usd.edu/amazon.