In a move to make higher education more affordable and accessible to working adults in South Carolina, Lander University and BMW Manufacturing Co. have created an educational alliance for the automaker’s employees.
Through the alliance, Lander will provide BMW Manufacturing associates with expedited admission processing and reduced tuition for online programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University.
Dr. Richard Cosentino, Lander University president, said the agreement represents a major step toward ensuring South Carolina has a well-educated and trained workforce for the future. “This alliance will enhance BMW’s imprint on higher education in the Palmetto State, and it will give Lander University an opportunity to help more South Carolinians who dream of furthering their education in a way that is accessible and affordable,” Cosentino said.
The discount for BMW associates applies to tuition only, and some online programs or courses may involve additional fees that are charged at full price.
Additionally, as part of the new alliance, Lander will also offer qualifying associates the option of deferred billing, in which students are billed at the end of the academic term, rather than the beginning, so that they do not have to pay tuition upfront and wait for reimbursement.
Dr. Lloyd Willis, dean of Lander’s College of Graduate and Online Studies, said the alliance comes at a time when the University is experiencing significant growth in the number of students enrolled in online and graduate degree programs.
“We recognize that many citizens are seeking online opportunities to achieve their college degree goals, whether they are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree,” he said. Lander has agreements with numerous businesses and industries throughout the state to offer reduced tuition benefits for employees, and Willis added, “the alliance with BMW further strengthens Lander’s mission to serve working adults in South Carolina.”
Dr. Michael Brizek, associate dean and professor of management with Lander’s College of Business, said Lander and BMW enjoy a strong and valuable relationship. “BMW has provided our graduates with outstanding career opportunities, and our students have benefited from internships through BMW’s Gen>NEXT program,” he said.
He added that the new educational alliance also dovetails with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education’s (CHE) commitment to increase the number of South Carolinians with certificates and associate degrees from the state’s technical schools, as well as undergraduate and master’s degrees from colleges and universities.
“The goal of the South Carolina CHE is to increase the proportion of South Carolinians with postsecondary credentials to 60 percent by 2030,” Brizek said. “This alliance fits with the CHE initiative.”
For more information about the educational agreement or Lander University’s online undergraduate and graduate programs, contact graduateoffice@lander.edu and 864-388-8624.