On Monday, Papa John’s International announced the company recently hired 20,000 team members, including many who were displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is again stepping up efforts to hire another 10,000 additional team members over the next few months. The pizza company remains committed to meeting the high demand for quality meals.
Papa John’s is also expanding its college tuition benefit program, “Dough & Degrees,” including the addition of two new partners, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and University of Maryland Global Campus. Those schools join Purdue University Global in offering Papa John’s corporate and franchise team members, as well as their immediate family members, significantly reduced college tuition options.
“We want to make it quick and simple for team members to join Papa John’s and immediately begin earning an income. An added benefit is access to a long-term pathway toward sustained personal and professional growth,” says Marvin Boakye, Papa John’s chief people and diversity officer. “COVID-19 has changed how we live, work and learn. With this significant expansion to our first-of-its-kind college tuition program, our team members will have the opportunity to earn not only a paycheck, but also a college degree.”
Team members can choose from a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of study across the three institutions. All coursework is done online through each school’s programs, making it a great choice for continuing education, especially when many brick-and-mortar colleges and universities are facing the challenge of holding in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SNHU and University of Maryland Global Campus offer a variety of programs made affordable for team members, with some options costing around $2,500 per semester for franchise team members—far less than a typical college degree. Most programs utilize low or no-cost materials, and in some cases, additional scholarships may be available to further reduce tuition costs.
“We are pleased to join with Papa John’s in support of their commitment to extending educational opportunities to employees and further developing workforce skills,” adds UMGC President Javier Miyares. “For more than 70 years, UMGC has emphasized quality academic programs and a student support system that address the specific needs of working adults, and our online programs are designed to fit education around students’ busy lives and careers.”
“We are thrilled to team up with Papa John’s to make a college degree more achievable for thousands of corporate and franchise team members across the nation,” says Sarah Normand, SNHU Workforce Partnerships Senior Vice President and Executive Director. “Our hope is that this partnership will allow Papa John’s team members to achieve their educational goals, and also help the organization attract and retain talent.”
