Education at Work, Inc. and the University of Cincinnati Partner to Employ Students

CINCINNATI - Aug. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- A local non-profit, Education at Work, Inc., offers employment to local college students with a bonus option that can really help with college affordability: The college student employees are eligible to receive up to $6,000 annually in tuition assistance from the start-up if the students maintain top grades while working.

And as the college year gets underway, the University of Cincinnati recently provided the non-profit with a $500,000 commitment to assist Education at Work in its mission to benefit local college students, including those from UC.

Education at Work (EAW) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps college students learn critical job skills and earn tuition assistance. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Education at Work is dedicated to helping students who might not otherwise be able to afford the costs of higher education. EAW hires college students as part-time customer service agents to serve the customers of their clients, such as Macy’s and Cincinnati Bell. The students provide these outsourced services as employees of EAW. In addition to competitive hourly wages, EAW’s student-employees are also eligible for compensation in the form of tuition assistance, up to $6,000 per year. This year, EAW has paid out over $60,000 in tuition assistance to its students.

The investment by UC will be allotted to specific areas of Education at Work’s mission. $250,000 will be used to cover certain operational expenses while EAW continues to develop its client base to increase revenues and reach a critical mass. The other $250,000 will be devoted to the Tuition Assistance Program and specifically available for University of Cincinnati students employed by EAW.

Santa Ono, President of UC, praises the EAW mission: “The ideas that EAW is pursuing – college affordability and providing work experience to students attending college – are very much in line with what we strive to provide our UC students. I am impressed with the innovative approach that Education at Work is using. It is Cincinnati Smart in that it provides training and a paycheck to supplement students’ classroom learning and that’s why UC is providing support.”

Currently, over 25% of Education at Work’s employees are University of Cincinnati students. EAW emphasizes the importance of affordable higher education, professional development, and the role obtaining a degree plays in improving a student’s future opportunities.

“Our great partnership with higher education institutions like The University of Cincinnati underscores the importance of investing in local startup businesses and student talent in the community. The UC grant awarded to Education at Work is a very generous sum that will go a long way in advancing our cause” says CEO and founder Dave Dougherty. “This college student workforce continues to prove itself invaluable in the delivery of our clients’ brand promise.”

The driving mission behind Education at Work is to positively impact the community by retaining quality talent, creating job opportunities and helping college students earn their degrees with less debt burden upon graduation. In addition to the financial support, students learn first-hand the responsibilities associated with gainful employment, such as productivity, commitment, teamwork and accountability.

About Education at Work

Education at Work is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing wholly outsourced or staff augmentation services for call center and back office operations of leading companies, delivered exclusively in the US. EAW employs an agent workforce that is made up entirely of college students pursuing their degrees.  EAW’s clients enjoy access to a high quality US-based service environment, pricing competitive with offshore markets – enabling them to bring back American jobs, and access students that can be a future talent pipeline for their firm.

Students can graduate virtually debt-free through EAW with fundamental skills that better prepares them for success in the current job market.  For more information, please visit www.education-at-work.org, or subscribe to the EAW blog: http://blog.education-at-work.org.

About University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati serves the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world as a premier, public, urban research university dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, experience-based learning, and research. UC is committed to excellence and diversity in its students, faculty, staff, and all activities. They provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish. Through scholarship, service, partnerships, and leadership, UC creates learning and employment opportunity, develops educated and engaged citizens, and enriches the city, state and global community.

For more information on The University of Cincinnati, visit www.uc.edu