UNC Charlotte will be tuition-free for Amazon workers. Here’s what to know.
UNC Charlotte is partnering with Amazon to provide hourly employees access to free tuition to any of the university’s 171 bachelor degree programs.
The move, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber said in a news statement, will help the local workforce meet North Carolina’s “evolving employment needs.”
“Charlotte is uniquely positioned to provide flexible higher education options that meet the demands of today’s working adults and drive even more economic growth, opportunity and success,” she said.
Amazon’s Career Choice program is part of the company’s Upskilling 2025 pledge — a $1.2 billion commitment to advance education for more than 300,000 Amazon employees by 2025. The benefit is available to employees with Amazon for at least 90 days and can be used through a select list of colleges and universities, according to the company.
Amazon has more than 12,500 full- and part-time workers in North Carolina, the Observer previously reported. Last September, Amazon announced it was hiring more than 3,500 people in the Charlotte region.
Students can transfer to UNC Charlotte from Amazon’s community college partners — including Central Piedmont, Rowan Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College — and continue to receive Amazon’s employee tuition benefit. This applies to the 49erNext co-admission program for students earning an associate degree and to the 49er Finish program for former UNC Charlotte students who have not completed a degree.
Amazon employees who are currently enrolled at UNC Charlotte also may apply to receive free tuition through the program, according to the release. More than 50,000 Amazon employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice.
“We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere,” said Tammy Thieman, global program lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles in the Thursday release announcing the partnership said the access to UNC Charlotte’s degree programs helps strengthen the city.
“UNC Charlotte and Amazon both contribute significantly to the economic vitality of our city,” Lyles said. “We are fortunate that these two powerhouses are partnering together in efforts to train, educate and expand the workforce.”
This story was originally published March 3, 2022 at 1:47 PM.
