Collaborative of institutions have shared mission to increase talent mobility and solve workforce challenges
SAN DIEGO (JUNE 29, 2023) — National University (NU), a nonprofit university that serves more than 40,000 students with a focus on working adults, educators, student parents, and current and former members of the military, today announced a new collaboration with EdAssist by Bright Horizons, a leading provider of workplace education benefits. The university will join a nationwide network of institutions that are working to improve access to affordable, high-quality education programs that lead to improved career opportunities and greater financial mobility for adult learners.
“At a time when the demands of the workforce continue to shift so rapidly, it’s no surprise that 70% of workers say they would switch to a new job if offered education benefits or skills training,” said Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president and CEO of National University. “This initiative strongly aligns with our decades-long focus on designing educational offerings that are tightly coupled with the needs of companies and talent developers. National University is proud to join the EdAssist Workforce Education Network and help unlock new education and career possibilities for employees at companies nationwide.”
Nationally, there are more than 8 million students ages 25 or older — and an additional 40 million Americans who have some college credit but no degree. At the same time, a growing number of employers are investing in education benefit programs, such as tuition assistance and student loan repayment programs, to boost employee morale, engagement and retention while meeting their workforce needs.
Through the collaboration with EdAssist, NU will become a member of the Workforce Education Network, a select group of high-quality colleges and universities committed to developing and implementing best practices in reskilling and upskilling, education pathways and credentialing that lead to greater social mobility for today’s working learners.
Continuing to solidify its position as the leading provider of workforce education solutions, EdAssist processed more than $1 billion dollars in tuition payments, served over 382,000 employees across all services, saved over $32 million in network tuition discounts and celebrated over 27,000 student graduates in 2022.
“Companies are embracing the power of education benefits not just as a tool to support team retention and satisfaction, but also to meet complex and fast-evolving workforce needs,” said Dr. Jill Buban, vice president and general manager of EdAssist. “National University will be a valued — and mission-aligned — partner as we work to create education, training and credentialing programs that enable high-potential employees to achieve their long-term career aspirations.”
As a veteran-founded MSI, National University’s student population reflects the shifting and highly diverse demographics of higher education today. Approximately 70% of NU’s students take the majority of their classes online. More than 25% identify as Hispanic, and 10% identify as Black. More than 80% of undergraduates are transfer students. The vast majority are working. The average age of NU students is 33. And about 1 in 4 students are service members or Veterans.
NU offers an array of support services and career-relevant academic programs that pair next-generation teaching and learning experiences to meet the needs of military students, working adults and students of all ages and stages, including its flexible four-week courses, offered online, on site, and in hybrid-learning formats.
For more information about partnership opportunities with National University Workforce Education Solutions, visit https://www.nu.edu/our-university/the-university/partnerships/
About National University: National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults by providing accessible, affordable higher education opportunities since 1971. As one of the nation’s largest private nonprofit universities, NU offers over 190+ online and on-campus programs and flexible four-week and eight-week classes designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to 40,000 students and 220,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. To learn more about National University’s new possibilities in education including next-generation education, credential-rich education, and whole human education, visit NU.edu.
About EdAssist by Bright Horizons
EdAssist by Bright Horizons is a leading provider of workforce education solutions, reaching more than seven million adult learners through partnerships with more than 200 of the world’s largest employers to deliver high-quality, affordable education programs designed to recruit, retain, and grow talent. In collaboration with over 200 post-secondary institutions in the U.S., EdAssist designs strategic education benefits programs that help build a talent pipeline for in-demand roles, fill skill gaps, and help companies develop the workforce necessary to innovate, grow, and compete in the global economy.