Disneyland Resort release
>>Disney’s education investment program, Disney Aspire, recently marked its one-year anniversary. With an initial investment of $150 million over the first five years, Disney Aspire is creating new opportunities for Disney’s full- and part-time hourly cast members and employees.
Whether learning a trade, growing language skills, earning a high school diploma or earning a college or master’s degree, Disney Aspire puts career dreams within reach and enables cast members to pursue their educational goals. In the program’s first year, more than 40 percent of the 90,000+ eligible cast and employees have taken the first step to sign up to participate, and more than 9,500 have enrolled in classes. The program’s network of nonprofit and fully accredited universities and learning providers also has expanded with the recent addition of University of Arizona. Participants now have 11 schools to choose from including the University of Denver and Brandman University.
Nearly 300 academic paths are available to Disney Aspire students. That’s double the number of degree and program offerings since launching and includes additions based on employee feedback, such as nursing and a greater number of master’s degree options.
The array of possibilities available to participants is just one factor that sets Disney Aspire apart from other leading corporate education programs. Cast members who enroll incur no tuition cost; Disney pays 100 percent of tuition up front, and required books and fees are reimbursable. Disney Aspire also enables cast members to pursue courses of study that are related to their current roles or explore completely new fields, and participants are under no obligation to stay at Disney after they’ve completed their degree or certificate. Disney’s commitment even includes accounting for taxes withheld for education benefits in excess of $5,250 annually.
Krista Ledbetter, a global HR operations associate based at Disneyland Resort, welcomes new cast members to Disney every day as part of her role—and she’s also a Disney Aspire student, working toward a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. When she speaks with new cast members about the potentially life-changing program, they often tell her it sounds too good to be true. Ledbetter assures them, “You just have to be ready to do the work. That’s the only catch.” Disney Aspire’s potential to change lives resonates across Disney’s hourly workforce, as well as with applicants who report that the program weighed heavily in their decision to apply for a position at Disney.
“This is an amazing commitment that Disney’s making in all of us,” Ledbetter says. “I think it shows that the company really cares about all of our employees and cast members, and they truly want to help us achieve our goals and our dreams—no matter what they are.”<<
>>Disney’s education investment program, Disney Aspire, recently marked its one-year anniversary. With an initial investment of $150 million over the first five years, Disney Aspire is creating new opportunities for Disney’s full- and part-time hourly cast members and employees.
Whether learning a trade, growing language skills, earning a high school diploma or earning a college or master’s degree, Disney Aspire puts career dreams within reach and enables cast members to pursue their educational goals. In the program’s first year, more than 40 percent of the 90,000+ eligible cast and employees have taken the first step to sign up to participate, and more than 9,500 have enrolled in classes. The program’s network of nonprofit and fully accredited universities and learning providers also has expanded with the recent addition of University of Arizona. Participants now have 11 schools to choose from including the University of Denver and Brandman University.
Nearly 300 academic paths are available to Disney Aspire students. That’s double the number of degree and program offerings since launching and includes additions based on employee feedback, such as nursing and a greater number of master’s degree options.
The array of possibilities available to participants is just one factor that sets Disney Aspire apart from other leading corporate education programs. Cast members who enroll incur no tuition cost; Disney pays 100 percent of tuition up front, and required books and fees are reimbursable. Disney Aspire also enables cast members to pursue courses of study that are related to their current roles or explore completely new fields, and participants are under no obligation to stay at Disney after they’ve completed their degree or certificate. Disney’s commitment even includes accounting for taxes withheld for education benefits in excess of $5,250 annually.
Krista Ledbetter, a global HR operations associate based at Disneyland Resort, welcomes new cast members to Disney every day as part of her role—and she’s also a Disney Aspire student, working toward a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. When she speaks with new cast members about the potentially life-changing program, they often tell her it sounds too good to be true. Ledbetter assures them, “You just have to be ready to do the work. That’s the only catch.” Disney Aspire’s potential to change lives resonates across Disney’s hourly workforce, as well as with applicants who report that the program weighed heavily in their decision to apply for a position at Disney.
“This is an amazing commitment that Disney’s making in all of us,” Ledbetter says. “I think it shows that the company really cares about all of our employees and cast members, and they truly want to help us achieve our goals and our dreams—no matter what they are.”<<
