AU enters into Corporate Partners agreement with Columbus City Schools

05/07/2020 ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University has entered into a three-year Corporate Partners agreement with the Columbus City School District.

The Columbus City School District was established in 1845 and is Ohio’s largest school district, serving the needs of more than 51,000 students in 109 schools.

Dan Lawson, AU Associate Vice President and Chief Corporate Relations Officer, said the corporate partners program offers employees of for-profit and non-profit organizations the opportunity to access Ashland’s degree programs at discounted rates. “Ashland University has enjoyed a long history and a strong relationship with Columbus City Schools. This agreement brings our relationship to a new level. The values we share with the district will mean that its students will feel welcome, safe and ‘at home’ as a student at Ashland University,” he said. “We welcome the Columbus City Schools to our rapidly growing network of Corporate and Educational Partners.

The corporate partner agreement with the school district calls for: 

• A $1,000 scholarship per academic year (not to exceed $500 per semester) for qualified district employees, their spouses and dependent children while pursuing an undergraduate degree. This scholarship is in addition to all other financial aid.
• A 10 percent tuition discount for qualified district employees, their spouses and dependent children in the form of a scholarship on any undergraduate course when not billed the full-time comprehensive rate for undergraduate tuition and a 10 percent tuition discount for district employees, their spouses and dependent children for any graduate course.
• A discounted rate of $215 for nurses seeking to complete the RN to BSN program. The above-mentioned scholarships do not apply to this special corporate partner discounted rate for the RN to BSN program.

“The program is tailored to allow Ashland University to enhance employees’ performance and their success in the workplace by providing career advancement skills and valuable training opportunities,” Lawson said. “In addition, it ensures that Ashland University stays connected to the educational entities and helps fuel our local and regional economy.” 

The Corporate Connections program also is designed to foster strategic ties between the university and businesses and organizations at the state, national and international level. He said the university has developed a “wall of fame,” which displays each of the organizations partnering with AU in the Corporate Connections program. 

Businesses and organizations interested in learning more about the Corporate Partners program can call 419-207-6745 or email corp-partnerships@ashland.edu

 Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.###