Workforce Readiness

Partnership Creates Jobs for University of Utah Students

• By Rhea Kelly
• 01/31/19

University of Utah students are gaining real-world job experience and earning wages and tuition benefits through a new program that pairs financial services company Discover with national nonprofit Education at Work (EAW).

The partnership will create more than 200 new jobs at Discover for current University of Utah students, according to a news announcement, in which students get on-the-job experience and mentorship, plus hourly wages and up to $5,250 in tax-free tuition support. That adds up to more than $2.5 million annually in combined wages and tuition benefits, the announcement said. EAW expects to hire an additional 100 students for the Discover program in the next year.

"The alliance between Discover and Education at Work is beneficial on many levels," said Steve Butler, vice president, cardmember assistance at Discover, in a statement. "It not only serves as a platform for students to gain valuable work and mentorship experience and graduate with less student debt, but also meets Discover's business needs and supports one of our key values, which is financial education."

"Much more than a typical on-campus job, this experience is enabling me to connect what I'm learning in school to the real world of work," said University of Utah student Diane Nguyen. "It's about pairing practical insights and experiences from my supervisors at EAW, with the skills and knowledge that I'm developing in the classroom."