Walmart is rolling out a new program that will allow its employees to earn degrees and diplomas in health-related fields for $1 a day, the company said in a release.
The employees will be eligible to apply for one of seven bachelor’s degrees and two career diplomas in health-related fields through Live Better U, Walmart’s education benefit program.
With the latest initiative, the company aims to better prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals and make quality health care more affordable and accessible.
“Our presence in thousands of communities gives us a unique opportunity to provide access to affordable healthcare to millions of people, and we need trained associates in order to do so,” said Thomas Van Gilder, Chief Medical Officer at Walmart.
$WMT to add 7 bachelor's degrees & 2 career diplomas in health care fields to its education benefits.
Last year, Walmart created a program that would allow its employees to earn a college degree without taking on student debt…. https://t.co/t86g13ftgg
— Ro Patel (@Ro_Patel) September 25, 2019
“As our health and wellness strategy and offerings continue to evolve, Live Better U will play a critical role in preparing our associates across the country for future work opportunities in the growing healthcare field.”
Most of the healthcare degree programs are offered through Purdue University Global, Southern New Hampshire University, Bellevue University, and Wilmington University while the career diploma programs for pharmacy technicians and opticians are offered through Penn Foster.
After graduation, the employees will fill various roles at more than 5,000 retail pharmacies, 3,000 vision centers and 400 hearing centers owned by the retail giant
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