Southeast Online at Southeast Missouri State University has launched a partnership program with DENSO Manufacturing Arkansas, Inc. to provide its employees access to quality and affordable online higher education.
The partnership offers DENSO employees access to Southeast Onlines 14 undergraduate programs, 18 graduate programs, certification programs and specialist degrees.
We are excited to partner with a manufacturing pillar in our region, said Chelsea McNeely, director of Southeast Online Programs. DENSO values education and supporting their employees, and believes Southeast Onlines business- and technology- related degree programming will be particularly useful and beneficial for the work their employees do and for their future careers.
DENSOs employees are the core of the company, which is always seeking new ways to broaden their skillsets and advance their careers, said Danita Gibson, senior talent management consultant with DENSO Manufacturing Arkansas, Inc.
A partnership with Southeast provides our associates with additional educational resources that will support our mission to shape the future of transportation and mobility, Gibson said. We are confident this partnership will empower them to develop educational goals that align with their professional ones.
In addition to taking advantage of Southeasts standard online tuition rate for undergraduate and graduate degrees, DENSO employees also will receive a tuition discount and waived application fees in any online-only degree program through Southeast Online.
The partnership with Southeast will provide new educational options that are adaptable to associates working full time, who have family commitments and want to take classes, Gibson said.
Trying to find a balance between work and life can be challenging, and when going back to school is thrown in the mix, it becomes even harder to achieve that balance, she said. Most of our associates live at least 45 minutes from a four-year institution, so attending face-to-face classes is not always convenient or a viable option. Southeast provides our associates a more flexible, cost-effective avenue for continuing their education, plus, they offer majors that are not available online at other universities in our area.
The agreement marks a significant partnership between the University and its surrounding communities and businesses, McNeely said.
Partnerships between Southeast and organizations or businesses help to improve the quality of the University and improve the community, she said. Southeast Online is dedicated to providing access to high-quality distance education experiences, and partnering with key industries like DENSO is critical to enhancing the educational and professional success of communities across the southeast Missouri region and beyond.
Professional development opportunities inside and outside of work that help their associates reach their potential and accomplish their goals creates a sense of dedication that emerges when they see the correlation between their education and career, thus, helping them be more successful, academically and professionally, Gibson added.
Our families, friends and neighbors depend on DENSO every day to get where theyre going, she said. Enhancing the skills of our workforce will ultimately impact our communities at large. When associates help close the gap on skill shortages to address company needs, the company evolves and becomes a stronger pillar in the community.
For more information about Southeasts partnership with DENSO Manufacturing Arkansas, Inc., visit http://www.semo.edu/DENSO.
For more information about how to become a partner with Southeast Online, visithttps://semo.edu/partner.